ETFs Charted: 4 Charts We Thought You'd Like this Week

So we got curious and looked at how much money has flowed into ETFs over the past decade. The chart below speaks for itself.

Top Themes: Usual Suspects...and Defense

For the past few years, a handful of themes have dominated portfolios in both demand and performance.

AI, disruptive tech, nuclear energy, and infrastructure have all been major winners. This year, however, defense has surged past them, delivering strong inflows alongside exceptional performance.

New armament plans across Europe and the ongoing Ukraine–Russia war, along with renewed tensions following the Israel–Iran skirmish, have pushed this theme to the forefront for both professional and DIY investors.

Boring but Necessary

While we can all agree that stocks are the cool kid in the portfolio, fixed income remains an essential tool for balance and income.

With strong demand across the fixed income spectrum in the U.S., Europe, and the rest of the world, fixed income ETFs have recently crossed $3 trillion in assets.

Crypto Winter...this Winter?

Crypto is feeling the squeeze as markets flip into full risk-off mode. The CoinMarketCap Crypto Fear and Greed Index has cratered into extreme fear. The CNN Fear and Greed Index is flashing the same warning.

At the same time, some high-flying AI names are wobbling under fresh bubble chatter, and traders are suddenly unsure whether the Fed will deliver a rate cut next month. That mix is a tough cocktail for digital assets.