ETF Inflows Top $100 Billion Just Two Weeks Into 2026

U.S.-listed exchange-traded funds pulled in nearly $60 billion during the week ending Friday, Jan. 16, extending what has been a red-hot start to 2026 for the ETF industry.

Total inflows for the year have already topped $100 billion just over two weeks in, an eye-catching pace for an industry that absorbed nearly $1.5 trillion in net new assets in 2025.

International equity ETFs remained strong last week, gathering $15.2 billion. U.S. equity ETFs also returned to form, attracting $20.9 billion after seeing outflows the prior week.

Fixed income demand was broad-based. U.S. fixed income ETFs took in $12.8 billion, while international fixed income ETFs added another $4.8 billion. 

Commodity ETFs brought in $3.9 billion, and currency ETFs picked up $2.1 billion.

IEMG & GLD Lead ETF Winners

On an individual fund basis, the iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG) was a notable inflows winner, pulling in $3.3 billion during the week.

The strong demand comes as international stocks continue to outperform U.S. equities. After beating U.S. stocks by their widest margin in decades in 2025, international markets have maintained that edge early this year. Through Jan. 16, IEMG was up 5.5% year to date, compared with a 1.4% gain for the S&P 500.

Part of IEMG’s recent strength reflects its exposure to South Korea, which has benefited the fund relative to peers. The ETF has outperformed the Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund ETF (VWO), which excludes South Korea because FTSE does not classify the country as an emerging market.

Gold ETFs were also in high demand. The SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) attracted $3.2 billion in inflows as gold prices pushed to fresh record highs above $4,700 per ounce. Gold is already up more than 9% this year, following a 65% surge in 2025.

Heightened uncertainty, including renewed concerns about Federal Reserve independence and tensions surrounding NATO following President Trump’s remarks about Greenland, has driven investors toward gold.

RSP & VCIT See Interest

Another notable inflows winner was the Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight ETF (RSP), which took in $2.9 billion. The fund is up 3.9% year to date through Jan. 19, nearly triple the gain of the market-cap-weighted S&P 500, as smaller stocks have outperformed their mega-cap peers.

That dynamic represents a clear shift from recent years, though it remains to be seen whether the trend has staying power.

Fixed income investors also showed interest in credit. The Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCIT) gathered $2.4 billion in inflows during the week.

Bond markets have started the year under pressure as yields have moved higher amid expectations that the Federal Reserve will hold off on additional rate cuts, alongside growing concerns about political interference in monetary policy.

For a full breakdown of last week’s ETF inflows and outflows, see the tables below.