## [# Investors Add $5B To ETFs Despite Volatility Surge](/sections/weekly-etf-flows/investors-add-5b-etfs-despite-volatility-surge) # Investors Add $5B To ETFs Despite Volatility Surge The highest VIX reading of the year didn't stop investors from adding to their ETF positions. [![sumit](/sites/default/files/styles/author_image_icon/public/2023-03/Sumit_0.png?itok=SO-7S5SH "sumit")](/authors/sumit-roy) [By Sumit Roy ](/authors/sumit-roy) Aug 11, 2017 Edited by: Sumit Roy [ + Follow ](/etf/login) Share Email LinkedIn Facebook X (Twitter) googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('js-dfp-tag-article_page_302x26'); }); Loading A sudden spike in stock market volatility didn't faze investors this week, at least judging by the latest flows into ETFs. According to FactSet, investors added $5 billion to U.S.-listed exchange-traded funds during the week ending Thursday, Aug. 10. The period includes Thursday, when the S&P 500 dropped 1.5% and the CBOE Volatility Index (VIX) jumped to its highest level of the year above 16, as geopolitical tensions flared between the U.S. and North Korea. Most asset classes had inflows. U.S equity ETFs took in $1.7 billion; international equity ETFs took in $1.9 billion; U.S. fixed-income ETFs took in $1.1 billion; and international fixed-income ETFs took in almost $200 million. Year-to-date, net inflows for U.S.-listed ETFs now stand at $285.1 billion, just a hair below 2016's annual record of $287.5 billion. **Bargain Buying In 'SVXY'** The inflows list was chock full of the usual suspects―broad, low-cost index ETFs like the [SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (DIA)](https://www.etf.com/dia) and the [SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)](https://www.etf.com/spy). Standing out like a sore thumb on the list was the [ProShares Short VIX Short-Term Futures ETF (SVXY)](https://www.etf.com/svxy). Its inflows of about $350 million were enough to put the fund at No. 5 on the list, and suggests that traders were using the VIX spike as an opportunity to bet against volatility. Indeed, shorting volatility has been one of the best trades of the year, returning more than 55%, even accounting for the recent surge in the VIX. **No Love For Safe-Haven ETFs** Meanwhile, on the outflows list, the [SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF (JNK)](https://www.etf.com/jnk) took the top spot, with redemptions of $520 million. Surprisingly, a number of ETFs tied to what are traditionally considered safe-haven areas of the market also saw selling. The [Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP)](https://www.etf.com/xlp) had outflows of around $470 million, while the [iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT)](https://www.etf.com/tlt) had outflows of $250 million. At the same time, the [SPDR Gold Trust (GLD)](https://www.etf.com/GLD) and the [VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX)](https://www.etf.com/Gdx) had outflows of just under $200 million apiece, even as gold prices rallied to two-month highs around $1,300/oz this week. For a full list of this week's top inflows and outflows, see the tables below: Top 10 Creations (All ETFs) TickerNameNet Flows ($,mm)AUM ($, mm)AUM % Change[DIA](https://www.etf.com/DIA)[SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust](https://www.etf.com/DIA)981.8917,766.935.85%[SPY](https://www.etf.com/SPY)[SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust](https://www.etf.com/SPY)687.48241,320.740.29%[XLI](https://www.etf.com/XLI)[Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund](https://www.etf.com/XLI)619.2211,883.225.50%[VEU](https://www.etf.com/VEU)[Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF](https://www.etf.com/VEU)468.7220,180.992.38%[SVXY](https://www.etf.com/SVXY)[ProShares Short VIX Short-Term Futures ETF](https://www.etf.com/SVXY)354.98727.3195.34%[VEA](https://www.etf.com/VEA)[Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF](https://www.etf.com/VEA)297.4059,588.530.50%[VWO](https://www.etf.com/VWO)[Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF](https://www.etf.com/VWO)284.9560,565.070.47%[AGG](https://www.etf.com/AGG)[iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF](https://www.etf.com/AGG)273.7948,932.290.56%[VCSH](https://www.etf.com/VCSH)[Vanguard Short-Term Corporate Bond ETF](https://www.etf.com/VCSH)256.3320,424.111.27%[XLV](https://www.etf.com/XLV)[Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund](https://www.etf.com/XLV)234.7917,880.231.33%Top 10 Redemptions (All ETFs) TickerNameNet Flows ($,mm)AUM ($, mm)AUM % Change[JNK](https://www.etf.com/JNK)[SPDR Bloomberg Barclays High Yield Bond ETF](https://www.etf.com/JNK)-519.6411,982.81-4.16%[XLP](https://www.etf.com/XLP)[Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund](https://www.etf.com/XLP)-470.868,492.34-5.25%[IWD](https://www.etf.com/IWD)[iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF](https://www.etf.com/IWD)-286.7036,733.03-0.77%[MDY](https://www.etf.com/MDY)[SPDR S&P Midcap 400 ETF Trust](https://www.etf.com/MDY)-270.4718,499.74-1.44%[XLE](https://www.etf.com/XLE)[Energy Select Sector SPDR Fund](https://www.etf.com/XLE)-260.8415,123.31-1.70%[TLT](https://www.etf.com/TLT)[iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF](https://www.etf.com/TLT)-249.916,814.17-3.54%[EWG](https://www.etf.com/EWG)[iShares MSCI Germany ETF](https://www.etf.com/EWG)-213.524,906.22-4.17%[GLD](https://www.etf.com/GLD)[SPDR Gold Trust](https://www.etf.com/GLD)-192.8931,918.96-0.60%[GDX](https://www.etf.com/GDX)[VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF](https://www.etf.com/GDX)-192.017,048.53-2.65%[EZU](https://www.etf.com/EZU)[iShares MSCI Eurozone ETF](https://www.etf.com/EZU)-183.5613,669.92-1.33%ETF Weekly Flows By Asset Class Net Flows ($, mm)AUM ($, mm)% of AUM**U.S. Equity**1,683.821,699,720.270.10%**International Equity**1,875.08708,823.400.26%**U.S. Fixed Income**1,141.24492,715.780.23%**International Fixed Income**173.3652,998.170.33%**Commodities**-240.2261,367.27-0.39%**Currency**-17.531,405.20-1.25%**Leveraged**-313.1628,428.10-1.10%**Inverse**578.5816,839.273.44%**Asset Allocation**-39.337,418.99-0.53%**Alternatives**196.744,178.374.71%**Total:****5,038.59****3,073,894.82****0.16%**Top 10 Volume Surprises, Funds >$50 mm AUM TickerNameAverage Volume (30 Day)1 Week Average Volume% of Average[MDYV](https://www.etf.com/MDYV)[SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Value ETF](https://www.etf.com/MDYV)51,042285,032558.43%[HFXE](https://www.etf.com/HFXE)[IQ 50 Percent Hedged FTSE Europe ETF](https://www.etf.com/HFXE)34,394159,072462.49%[MDYG](https://www.etf.com/MDYG)[SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Growth ETF](https://www.etf.com/MDYG)36,780159,408433.41%[HYZD](https://www.etf.com/HYZD)[WisdomTree Interest Rate Hedged High Yield Bond Fund](https://www.etf.com/HYZD)33,364136,506409.14%[AFK](https://www.etf.com/AFK)[VanEck Vectors Africa Index ETF](https://www.etf.com/AFK)13,28849,279370.85%[SLYG](https://www.etf.com/SLYG)[SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Growth ETF](https://www.etf.com/SLYG)22,57165,124288.53%[SLYV](https://www.etf.com/SLYV)[SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF](https://www.etf.com/SLYV)45,275115,031254.07%[BBRC](https://www.etf.com/BBRC)[Columbia Beyond BRICs ETF](https://www.etf.com/BBRC)5,52413,982253.09%[AOA](https://www.etf.com/AOA)[iShares Core Aggressive Allocation ETF](https://www.etf.com/AOA)55,287138,789251.03%[CSML](https://www.etf.com/CSML)[IQ Chaikin U.S. Small Cap ETF](https://www.etf.com/CSML)81,994171,182208.77%Disclaimer: All data as of 6 a.m. Eastern time the date the article is published. Data is believed to be accurate; however, transient market data is often subject to subsequent revision and correction by the exchanges. [ + Follow ](/etf/login) [ Sumit Roy Senior ETF Analyst ](/authors/sumit-roy) Sumit Roy is the senior ETF analyst for etf.com and author of (Don't) Invest Like a Pro. He creates a variety of content for the platform, including… [View Bio](/authors/sumit-roy) Related Topics [Equity](http://www.etf.com/topics/equity) [Fixed Income](http://www.etf.com/topics/fixed-income) [Bond](http://www.etf.com/topics/bond) [Gold](http://www.etf.com/topics/gold) [Volatility](http://www.etf.com/topics/volatility)