Summary:
The inclusion of global ETFs, specifically the US and Europe, is intended to provide two types of investor insights and that are ultimately pertinent to the Australian ETF market.
Firstly, inflows / outflows data and which clearly provides a strong signal regarding investor sentiment regarding asset classes, geographic preferences or otherwise, thematic / sector preferences, and finally fear and greed levels.
Secondly, new issue ETFs reflect ‘real-time’ investment theme investor sentiment. i.e, what’s ‘hot’. Additionally, the largest Australian ETF issues are all part of large international entities. And often what ETF is issued in their home markets and, to some degree, subsequently issued in Australia.
ETF News – Investors go on the Defence in April and to Europe
Investors go on the defence in April: Amundi ETF. European strategies accounted for half of the month’s overall inflows of EUR16.9 billion says Amundi ETF, with investors allocated into defensive strategies in both equities and fixed income. Smart beta, minimum volatility and government bonds all posted gains. The rotation to European equities showed no sign of abating, as half of the overall net new assets (NNA) in the month were directed towards these exposures. This underscores the year-to-date trend of investors preferring Europe over the US in equities.
Trackinsight has published its 2025 global ETF survey revealing that the ETF Industry has broken new barriers as global growth accelerates.
Active ETFs: The breakout story. Active ETFs now represent 27% of global listings (up from 13% in 2019). They attracted USD352 billion in 2024—22 per cent of total flows—and made up 51% of all ETF launches.
The US leads with USD973 billion in active ETF AUM and 60 per cent of new listings. Share class reform and fund conversions are poised to fuel further growth. Europe is catching on, with active ETF AUM quadrupling since 2019, the firm says.
APAC (ex-China/India) is gaining speed. Australia, Korea and Japan are driving growth with AI, income, and flexible strategies. Regulatory changes have helped level the playing field, Trackinsight writes.
Fixed Income ETFs: maturing & expanding: Bond ETFs exceeded USD2.6 trillion in AUM (ex-China/India). The US dominates with USD1.9 trillion, but Europe, Canada, and APAC are growing fast. 2024 saw 572 new bond ETFs globally. Active strategies took the lead, with 269 launches and USD127 billion in inflows — a third of all Fixed Income ETF inflows. Their market share hit 15%, up from 9% in 2019.
Thematic ETFs: growth, but selective. Thematic ETFs hit a turning point. US assets reached USD278 billion, led by crypto, infrastructure, AI, and nuclear. But closures are rising, especially in niche fading or volatile areas like metaverse and blockchain.
ETFs Weekly Summary
Name CODE Closing Price Æ Week Price ($) 1 Mth Return (%) 1 Yr Return (%) Running Yield(%) Market Cap (in Mill.) BetaShares Australian High Interest Cash ETF AAA.AXW 50.2 0.04 0.32 4.51 #N/A 4456.83 BetaShares Australian Government Bond ETF AGVT.AXW 41.65 -0.43 -0.39 4.18 3.56 916.66 BetaShares Australian Major Bank Hybrids Index ETF BHYB.AXW 9.87 0.01 1.02 4.29 6.59 580.71 iShares Core Cash ETF BILL.AXW 100.62 0.08 0.33 4.55 4.38 789.74 SPDRÊS&P/ASX Australian Bond Fund ETF BOND.AXW 25.46 -0.2 -0.35 4.32 1.54 42.54 BetaShares Legg Mason Australian Bond Fund BNDS.AXW 23.68 -0.12 0.16 4.97 3.94 822.36 BetaShares Australian Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF CRED.AXW 23.16 -0.09 0.79 7.17 4.81 1150.18 Daintree Hybrid Opportunities ETF DHOF.AXW 9.57 0.09 1.16 4.23 5.77 51.23 Elstree Hybrid Fund ETF EHF1.CXA 5.16 -0.04 5.73 41.06 Daintree Core Income FundÊETF DCOR.AXW 51.2 0.19 0.65 1.00 43.45 VanEck Vectors Australian Floating Rate ETF FLOT.AXW 24.96 0.08 0.93 5.31 5.01 764.66 BetaShares Sustainability Leaders Diversified Bond Hedged ETF GBND.AXW 20.68 0.02 0.19 3.70 2.95 238.88 BetaShares Global Government Bond 20+ Year ETF Ð Currency Hedged GGOV.AXW 13 -0.07 -1.07 -3.38 2.99 204.23 Janus Henderson Sustainable Credit Active ETF GOOD.AXW 50.83 -0.2 -0.47 2.46 5.01 1.79 SPDRÊS&P/ASX Australian Government Bond Fund ETF GOVT.AXW 24.37 -0.22 -0.29 4.02 2.34 58.64 BetaShares Active Australian Hybrids Fund ETF HBRD.AXW 10.12 0.05 0.95 5.55 6.39 2385.23 BetaShares Interest Rate Hedged Australian Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF HCRD.AXW 25.19 0.11 1.57 7.76 4.77 43.98 iShares Core Composite Bond ETF IAF.AXW 102.2 -0.72 -0.13 4.45 2.85 2988.56 iShares Treasury ETF IGB.AXW 98.54 -0.67 -0.44 3.69 2.47 423.68 iShares Global High Yield Bond ETF IHHY.AXW 93.04 0.55 2.63 7.77 6.25 210.58 iShares Core Global Corporate Bond ETF IHCB.AXW 90.81 0.17 0.58 4.29 4.05 261.97 iShares J.P. Morgan USD Emerging Markets Bond ETF IHEB.AXW 74.09 0.47 2.21 4.98 5.06 54.35 iShares Government Inflation ETF ILB.AXW 123.78 -0.53 0.96 0.32 1.67 915.08 iShares Enhanced Cash ETF ISEC.AXW 100.72 0.07 0.35 4.65 4.47 300.49 Betashares Australian Composite Bond ETF OZBD.AXW 44.54 -0.28 0.12 5.11 3.86 598.57 VanEck Vectors Australian Corporate Bond Plus ETF PLUS.AXW 17.02 -0.03 0.47 6.79 3.91 370.10 BetaShares Australian Bank Senior Floating Rate Bond ETF QPON.AXW 26.05 0.11 1.06 5.40 5.33 1630.96 Russell Australian Select Corporate Bond ETF RCB.AXW 20.32 -0.01 0.59 6.13 3.88 292.20 Russell Australian Government Bond ETF RGB.AXW 19.12 -0.15 -0.57 3.46 1.91 241.43 Russell Australian Semi-Government Bond ETF RSM.AXW 20.79 -0.1 0.19 5.53 0.00 57.74 VanEck Vectors Australian Subordinated Debt ETF SUBD.AXW 25.07 0.1 1.13 6.01 5.94 2431.53 VanEck 1-3 Month US Treasury Bond ETF TBIL.AXW 52.07 -0.18 -0.95 8.43 4.47 147.11 US Treasury Bond 7-10 Year Currency Hedged ETF US10.AXW 50.49 -0.21 -0.28 3.40 3.24 27.30 Betashares Inflation Protected US Treasury Bond (Hedged) ETF UTIP.AXW 25.82 0 0.58 4.30 1.89 187.98 Vanguard Australian Corporate Fixed Interest ETF VACF.AXW 51.62 -0.13 0.49 6.13 3.40 680.55 Vanguard Australian Fixed Interest Index ETF VAF.AXW 46.03 -0.33 -0.15 4.68 2.72 2571.81 Vanguard Global Aggregate Fixed Interest Index Hedged ETF VBND.AXW 41.96 -0.02 0.29 3.93 2.26 2643.44 Vanguard International Credit Securities Index ETF VCF.AXW 38.7 0.07 0.86 4.49 2.74 167.57 Vanguard Ethically Conscious Global Aggregate Bond Index Hedged ETF VEFI.AXW 42.62 -0.03 0.33 3.84 2.28 75.36 Vanguard Australian Government Bond Index ETF VGB.AXW 46.67 -0.4 -0.36 4.17 2.67 1096.23 Vanguard International Fixed Interest Index ETF VIF.AXW 38.7 -0.12 -0.15 2.97 1.80 874.27 ActiveX Ardea Real Outcome Bond Fund ETF XARO.AXW 24.1 0.08 0.37 3.84 1.48 206.77
*Closing price as at end of week. Returns in AUD before fees