ETFs see highest quarterly flows on record
5 minute read
Market commentary

ETFs see highest quarterly flows on record

Strong flows into equity ETFs in June propelled the Q2 total to $133 billion – eclipsing the previous record, set in Q1, by nearly $8 billion.

  • Europe-domiciled ETFs attracted $46.1 billion of assets in June, with both equity and bond ETFs seeing healthy inflows.

  • Equity ETFs collected $36.0 billion in new assets, while fixed income exposures saw $9.9 billion of net inflows.

  • The Vanguard UCITS ETF range captured net inflows of $6.2 billion in June, with the majority recording positive flows.

Monthly recap: Strong June caps consistent quarter

Flows into Europe-domiciled ETFs proved remarkably consistent across Q2, with totals of $42.2 billion in April, $44.3 billion in May and $46.1 billion in June. The net total, $132.5 billion, sets a new quarterly high point, outpacing the $125.0 billion we saw in Q1 this year. Flows in Q2 were supported by a risk-on environment, as easing geopolitical tensions and lower oil prices improved sentiment, while renewed optimism around AI-driven growth boosted earnings expectations and lifted developed market equities.

Equity ETFs captured $36.0 billion of net inflows in June. Core equity ETFs accounted for $26.4 billion of net inflows – a new monthly record – with investors favouring US, global and developed market exposures. Smart beta and sustainable equity ETFs also enjoyed a relatively strong month.

Fixed income ETFs saw $9.9 billion of net inflows in June – easing off the $15.6 billion of flows in May but in line with the monthly average for 2026. Government bond ETFs had $3.1 billion of net inflows for the month, while high-yield and corporate exposures also welcomed healthy flows. On a regional basis, investors focused on euro area, US and global bond ETFs.

Commodity and alternative ETFs enjoyed net inflows in June, while multi-asset ETFs suffered modest net outflows.

Europe-domiciled ETFs have set a torrid, record-setting pace through the first half of 2026. Year to date, Europe-domiciled ETFs have seen $257.5 billion of net inflows. At the same point last year, that figure was $163.0 billion.  

Total ETF market flows

ETF inflows continue upward trend

European ETF cumulative flows – cumulative 12 months by asset class ($ billion)

A line chart shows European ETF cumulative flows over the 12 months to 30 June 2026 in billions of US dollars by the asset classes of equity, fixed income and other.

Source: ETFbook, as at 30 June 2026.

Equity ETFs

Core equity ETFs post highest monthly haul on record

Equity flows by category: Month to date ($ million)

A bar chart shows equity ETF flows by category for the month to 30 June 2026 in millions of US dollars.

Source: ETFbook, as at 30 June 2026. The ‘segment’ category includes equity exposures which target specific market capitalisation segments, such as small-cap, mid-cap and large-cap. The ‘market access’ category includes difficult-to-access markets such as emerging markets. The ‘basket’ category includes strategies that combine several stocks as the underlying exposure.

Core equity ETFs posted $26.4 billion of net inflows in June, just outpacing the previous monthly record of $26.0 billion (April 2026). Through the first six months of the year, core equity ETFs have collected $121.0 billion. Smart beta and sustainable ETFs added net inflows of $3.8 billion and $2.4 billion, respectively. We saw only minor net outflows across the categories we track.

US equity ETFs back atop the table

Equity flows by geographic exposure: Month to date ($ million)

A bar chart shows equity ETF flows by geographic exposure for the month to 30 June 2026 in millions of US dollars.

Source: ETFbook, as at 30 June 2026. 

For the first time this year, US equity ETFs posted the highest monthly net inflows across regional equity exposures – the total haul of $14.5 billion is also a new record. Flows into global and developed market equity ETFs remained strong, however, at $12.7 billion and $8.2 billion, respectively. Euro area ETFs, on the other hand, weathered net outflows of -$1.8 billion, while various single-country and Europe ETFs saw light outflows.

Fixed income ETFs

Government bond ETFs outpace other categories

Fixed income flows by category: Month to date ($ million)

A bar chart shows fixed income ETF flows by category for the month to 30 June 2026 in millions of US dollars.

Source: ETFbook, as at 30 June 2026.

Government bond ETFs again topped the flows table, gathering $3.1 billion in June. The category has seen net inflows in all but one of the months this year, for a total of $23.1 billion. High-yield and corporate bond ETFs also welcomed net inflows, adding $1.7 billion each in June. No bond ETF exposures saw net outflows across the categories we track.

Preference for euro area bond ETFs persists

Fixed income flows by geographic exposure: Month to date ($ million)

A bar chart shows fixed income ETF flows by geographic exposure for the month to 30 June 2026 in millions of US dollars.

Source: ETFbook, as at 30 June 2026.

Euro area bond ETFs attracted $4.3 billion of net inflows in June while US and global bond ETF exposures added $3.6 billion and $1.7 billion, respectively. Euro area bond exposures have seen net inflows every month of 2026, for a YTD total of $26.2 billion. On the negative side of the ledger, Germany bond ETFs endured net outflows of -$319 million. 

Vanguard UCITS ETFs

Vanguard range sees net inflows of $6.2 billion in June 

Vanguard UCITS ETF net flows: Month to date ($ million)

A block chart shows Vanguard UCITS ETF net flows for the month to 30 June 2026 in millions of US dollars.

Source: ETFbook, as at 30 June 2026.

The Vanguard UCITS ETF range captured net inflows of $6.2 billion in June, with the majority recording positive flows. Inflows came mainly from Vanguard’s equity ETF range ($4.4 billion) and the fixed income ETF range ($1.6 billion). The multi-asset ETF range ($122 million) and cash ETF range ($52 million) also saw net inflows.
 

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