ETFs: Rush for Space-Themed ETFs

In ETF trading, the focus remains largely on AI and energy prices. Tech ETFs are seeing strong trading volumes, though there is also some profit-taking. Oil and gas products are seeing mixed performance. Another hot topic of discussion: the SpaceX IPO.

May 27, 2026. FRANKFURT (Deutsche Börse). With record-breaking sentiment on the stock markets, ETF trading is also booming. “Trading volumes are very strong,” reports Frank Mohr of Société Générale. U.S. and global equities are particularly in demand. “The war in Iran remains the dominant issue,” explains ICF trader Ivo Orlemann. Trading volume in oil and gas price trackers is therefore high.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 reached new highs again yesterday, Tuesday, while the MSCI World did so on Monday. At 25,371 points on Wednesday afternoon, the DAX is not far from its record high of 25,508 points set in January.

“S&P and Nasdaq ETFs are also in demand”

According to Mohr, MSCI World trackers from UBS (IE00BD4TXV59) and iShares (IE00B4L5Y983), as well as the SPDR MSCI ACWI (IE00B3YLTY66), are proving very popular. Also in demand: S&P 500 ETFs, such as those from iShares (IE00B5BMR087). However, Mohr also notes outflows from S&P 500 (IE00BFMXXD54) and Nasdaq trackers. Orlemann is also observing profit-taking, for example in the WisdomTree Nasdaq 100 3x Daily Leveraged ETN. The clear sales leader at ICF is the VanEck Morningstar Developed Markets Dividend Leaders (NL0011683594).

“European stocks lack a clear trend, and Germany is less in the spotlight,” Mohr adds. Meanwhile, the high interest in British stocks, such as the iShares Core FTSE 100 (IE0005042456), is striking. 

Tech Stocks on Top

Tech stocks dominate trading in sector ETFs. “Trading volumes are very high and buying is outpacing selling, though there are also many sales,” Mohr reports. He sees slightly more buying for the iShares S&P 500 Information Technology Sector (IE00B3WJKG14) and the iShares Automation & Robotics (IE00BYZK4552), with inflows and outflows in equal measure for the Xtrackers Artificial Intelligence & Big Data (IE00BGV5VN51).

Among Lang & Schwarz clients, interest in semiconductor ETFs is high, as Andreas Schröer notes, for example in the iShares MSCI Global Semiconductors (IE000I8KRLL9). At ICF, a special theme is also proving popular: clean water (IE00BK5BC891). 

Space Innovators: From 30 to 120 Euros

Space exploration is currently a huge topic, as all traders report. Interest is focused on the VanEck Space Innovators (IE000YU9K6K2), which is seeing massive investment. The catalyst: the initial public offering of Elon Musk’s space company SpaceX in June. “It is assumed that SpaceX will be included in the ETF,” notes Schröer. Launched in June 2022, the VanEck Space Innovators invests globally in companies in the space industry. Since May 2025, the price has nearly quadrupled, and the ETF is now worth 1.6 billion U.S. dollars. U.S. stocks account for 65 percent of the portfolio, followed by a wide margin by Japan (8 percent) and Taiwan (4 percent). Largest holdings as of the end of April: Earth observation company Planet Labs, Rocket Lab—known for its launch systems—and satellite company Viasat, all three based in the U.S.