This week's highlights
China A-shares posted big gains last week as the U.S. announced it would delay planned tariff increases. CETF and CNEW returned 7.1% and 6.1% for the week respectively. European equities also rallied as the prospect of a no-deal Brexit lessened. ETFS EURO STOXX 50 ETF (ESTX) returned 2.3%, BetaShares British Pound ETF (POU) gained 2.0%. ETFS S&P Biotech ETF (CURE) was the week’s top performing ETF, returning 7.6% and is now up 26.2% year-to-date.
Commodity ETFs were mixed with gold, silver and oil declining, while platinum and palladium rose strongly. Gold mining ETFs, GDX and MNRS, were the poorest performing ETFs for the week.
Total flows into domestically domiciled ETFs were $181m for the week, while outflows totalled $50m. Fixed income funds IGB, IHCB, AAA, ILB and QPON all saw strong inflows. The week’s biggest outflows were from STW and GOLD.
Trading volume was dominated by the usual suspects; AAA, STW, VAS and IVV, with above average trading seen in IGB, GOLD and IHVV.
ETF Securities’ “Future Present” range of funds has continued its strong start to 2019 with CURE, ROBO and TECH all returning in excess of 17% year-to-date and ACDC up 7.3%.