ETFs: “Some Nasdaq trackers also sold”

“Primarily buying, but also profit-taking”

Trading in equity ETFs continues to be driven by the major indices. The focus at Lang & Schwarz is on world, S&P 500 and Nasdaq trackers, but also DAX ETFs. “We are primarily seeing buying, but also some profit-taking,” explains Kretschmann. According to Mohr, global, S&P 500, DAX and MSCI Europe trackers are on the shopping lists. “However, some Nasdaq ETFs are also being sold,” he notes. Emerging market ETFs such as the iShares Core MSCI EM IMI (IE00BKM4GZ66) are in demand.

A hot topic at Société Générale: ESG ETFs. “Even if issuers are reporting a decline in interest: ESG ETFs account for an estimated 20 percent of trading turnover,” explains Mohr. The Amundi MSCI USA ESG Climate Net Zero Ambition CTB (IE000QQ8Z0D8), for example, is currently popular. At ICF, the VanEck Morningstar Developed Markets Dividend Leaders (NL0011683594), a dividend ETF with an ESG filter, is in demand.

In addition, “ETF pope” Gerd Kommer is apparently convincing with his ETF: “The L&G Gerd Kommer Multifactor Equity (IE0001UQQ933) is being bought a lot,” reports Orlemann. According to Mohr, the ETF, which now has a value of over 488 US dollars, is also well received. It invests in companies from industrialized and emerging countries, but the country weighting is based 50 percent on market capitalization and 50 percent on economic output (GDP). In addition, the ETF, which is also available in a distributing version (IE000FPWSL69), overweights the factor premiums size, value, quality, investment and momentum.  

Tech ETFs: some are getting cold feet

The business with sector ETFs continues to be dominated by tech trackers, such as Xtrackers Artificial Intelligence & Big Data (IE00BGV5VN51). “However, there is also some profit-taking,” reports Mohr. L&G Global Brands (IE0007HKA9K1), which tracks the world's largest brands, is clearly in demand. The defense sector also remains popular, as Orlemann reports, specifically VanEck Defense (IE000YYE6WK5). 

US bonds in demand, gold ETCs popular

According to Mohr, the strong demand for US government bond ETFs is striking in the bond sector. “This applies to all maturities,” he explains. European bonds, on the other hand, tend to sell off, albeit not on a large scale.

The recent rise in the price of gold is also stimulating trading in gold ETCs. According to Kretschmann, Xetra-Gold (DE000A0S9GB0) is a popular choice. Orlemann also reports good demand for Xetra Gold, but also for the Leverage Shares 3x Long Silver (XS2472195952). At currently USD 2,718 per troy ounce of gold, the all-time high of USD 2,789 from October last year is not far away.

By Anna-Maria Borse, 21 January 2025, © Deutsche Börse