ETFs: (Almost) Everything Revolves Around Oil and Gas
A few years ago, they were still considered a thing of the past, but now oil and gas companies are extremely popular again. When it comes to stocks, investors tend to favor those that are less volatile.
March 17, 2026. FRANKFURT (Deutsche Börse). The rapid rise in oil and gas prices is driving ETF and ETC trading. “Oil and gas products are once again being traded very actively,” reports Holger Heinrich of Baader Bank. “Oil products are the focus,” adds Janis Völker of Lang & Schwarz. According to Ivo Orlemann of ICF Bank, oil and gas products are also clearly the center of attention at the moment. “We are seeing a lot of short-term speculative positioning, in some cases involving large sums,” explains the trader.
Currently, a barrel of Brent crude oil from the North Sea costs $103; before the outbreak of the Iran war, the price was around $70. According to Heinrich, there is a lot of activity in oil and gas producer ETFs, such as the iShares Oil & Gas Exploration & Production (IE00B6R51Z18). In addition to producers, oil service providers are also in demand, according to Völker, for example with the VanEck Oil Services (IE000NXF88S1).
Energy ETFs at the Top
The VanEck Oil Services (IE000NXF88S1) tracks the Market Vector US-Listed Oil Services Index, which has risen 36 percent since the start of the year. This puts it at the top of the list of the best sector indices for 2026, according to data from the ETF platform justETF. Even aside from that, the energy sector dominates the list of top performers: the top 14 spots are held by energy indices.
- Read more: justetf.com
Oil Price Trackers: Preferably Leveraged
Also popular: oil price ETCs, often leveraged as well, such as the WisdomTree Brent Crude Oil 2x Daily Leveraged (JE00BDD9QD91), as Heinrich observes. At ICF, the WisdomTree WTI Crude Oil 3x Daily Leveraged (IE00BMTM6B32) is the top seller. The counterpart for natural gas (XS2819843900) is also in demand, as are the WisdomTree Brent Crude Oil (JE00B78CGV99) and the WisdomTree WTI Crude Oil (GB00B15KXV33) without leverage. Lang & Schwarz’s trading-savvy clientele is also heavily invested in leveraged oil price trackers, particularly WisdomTree’s triple-leveraged WTI and Brent ETCs in both long and short versions.
According to Völker, shortages of certain industrial metals caused by the war in Iran are also leading to increased trading in ETCs such as the WisdomTree Aluminum (GB00B15KXN58). “Aluminium Bahrain, the world’s largest aluminum smelter, is scaling back production,” he explains. Trading in gold and silver ETCs has calmed down somewhat. According to Orlemann, there is still significant trading volume in the WisdomTree Silver 3x Daily Leveraged ETC (IE00B7XD2195).
Minimum Volatility Options in Demand
For the overall market, Baader Bank trader Heinrich reports a slight buying surplus. When it comes to global equities, the classic choice is the iShares Core MSCI World (IE00B4L5Y983), along with minimum volatility ETFs (IE00BYXPXL17). Sold are the Invesco FTSE All-World UCITS (IE0006VDD4K1) and an active ETF from JP Morgan, the JPM Strategic Allocation Conservative Active (IE000FASRFS4). Launched in January of this year, the ETF follows a balanced fund strategy with allocations to bonds (70 percent), equities (20 percent), and cash (10 percent).
“For U.S. equities, purchases focused on ESG and factor strategies,” Heinrich adds. On the selling side, there is also an active ETF from JP Morgan, the JPM US Research Enhanced Index Equity Active (IE00BF4G7076). It was launched back in 2018 and aims to outperform the S&P 500 with U.S. stocks. “Leveraged investing is also popular in the U.S. stock market,” adds Orlemann, referring to the WisdomTree NASDAQ 100 3x Daily Leveraged-ETN (IE00BLRPRL42).
“Make Europe Great” ETF Is Well Received
According to Heinrich, the “Make Europe Great” ETF from HANetf (IE0007WMHDE3) is in high demand in European equity trading. It invests in companies that could benefit from European spending in the areas of defense, energy, infrastructure, and nearshoring. In addition, products targeting lower volatility (IE00B86MWN23) are also in demand here. Short products also tend to be on the sell lists. Examples: the Amundi ShortDAX Daily (-1x) Inverse (LU2572257041) and the Xtrackers Euro Stoxx Short Daily Swap (LU0292106753).
ICF clients continue to hold a high regard for the VanEck Morningstar Developed Markets Dividend Leaders (NL0011683594), as well as the L&G Gerd Kommer Multifactor Equity (IE0001UQQ933).
By Anna-Maria Borse, March 17, 2026, © Deutsche Börse AG
About the Author
Anna-Maria Borse is a finance and business editor specializing in financial markets, the stock market, and economic issues.
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