ETFs: “Tech trackers back in demand”
Energy prices remain the top topic—and oil and gas ETFs and ETCs continue to see strong trading volumes. Another notable trend: tech ETFs are once again proving very popular. Meanwhile, European stocks are increasingly coming into the spotlight.
April 14, 2026. FRANKFURT (Deutsche Börse). With the market volatility, there is also a lot of activity in ETF trading. “Purchases are actually significantly outpacing sales,” reports Frank Mohr of Société Générale. While global and U.S. stocks continued to account for the largest share of trading volume, “the share of European stocks is rising.” At ICF Bank, oil and gas ETCs remain a major focus, as Ivo Orlemann notes. “Trading in equity ETFs has quieted down.”
Following the announcement of a ceasefire in the Iran war, the price of oil briefly fell to $93 per barrel of Brent, but then rose again. As of Tuesday afternoon, the price stands at just under $99. According to Orlemann, the WisdomTree WTI Crude Oil 3x Daily Leveraged ETC (IE00BMTM6B32) is seeing extremely heavy trading. Also popular: the WisdomTree Brent Crude Oil (JE00B78CGV99) and the WisdomTree Brent Crude Oil 2x Daily Leveraged (JE00BDD9QD91), both ETCs. There is also a lot of activity in oil and gas ETFs. According to Mohr, both sides are being played here, with a slight selling surplus. Investors are betting on the iShares MSCI World Energy Sector (IE00BJ5JP105), for example, while offloading the iShares Stoxx Europe 600 Oil & Gas (DE000A0H08M3).
Frank Mohr
Focus on high-dividend stocks
When it comes to broadly diversified equity ETFs, Mohr sees a lot of buying in global and U.S. stocks, such as the MSCI World trackers from iShares or Amundi (IE00B4L5Y983, LU2572257124), the Amundi Global Equity Quality Income (LU0832436512), and the Vanguard FTSE All-World (IE00BK5BQT80). At ICF, there have been significant inflows into the Global X Superdividend (IE00077FRP95) and the VanEck Morningstar Developed Markets Dividend Leaders (NL0011683594). These funds focus on high-dividend stocks from around the world.
According to Mohr, the iShares S&P 500 (IE00B5BMR087) and the State Street SPDR S&P 400 US Mid Cap (IE00B4YBJ215) are on the shopping lists for U.S. stocks. “Nasdaq ETFs are also in demand,” he adds. The Nasdaq 100 has risen sharply since its recent low at the end of March and is approaching its all-time high.
For European stocks, Mohr reports both buying and selling; for German stocks, more buying; but for those from the eurozone, more selling, particularly of Euro Stoxx 50 ETFs. “Emerging market stocks are no longer as sought after as they were in late 2025 and early 2026,” he adds.
Global ETFs particularly popular
Inflows into European UCITS ETFs slowed in March, according to issuer Amundi. In addition, ETF investors rebalanced their portfolios in response to the Iran conflict. Global strategies led the way, accounting for more than half of total net inflows (€6 billion). European developed markets followed with an increase of €3.7 billion. There were outflows of €543 million from ETFs tracking U.S. stocks. Net inflows into emerging markets totaled just €29 million due to the stronger U.S. dollar, down from €9.5 billion in February.
Tech Stocks: Heading for All-Time Highs
Despite high trading volumes in oil and gas ETFs, tech stocks once again dominate the sector-tracking ETF market, as Mohr reports, accounting for a significant 60 percent of trading volume. “Most of these are purchases.” Examples: the iShares S&P 500 Information Technology Sector (IE00B3WJKG14), the Xtrackers MSCI World Information Technology (IE00BM67HT60), and the Xtrackers Artificial Intelligence & Big Data (IE00BGV5VN51). All three have recently posted price gains but have not yet returned to their November highs.
A rarity on the turnover lists of Société Générale and ICF: the VanEck Space Innovators (IE000YU9K6K2), which provides exposure to companies in the space industry. “That’s probably due to the lunar orbit,” notes Mohr. The ETF was launched in June 2022, and its price has more than quadrupled since then.
Money market products: “Well-established in cash management”
Trading in bond ETFs is currently in the shadows. “At around 12 percent, the share is well below the usual one-third,” Mohr notes. At the top of the turnover lists are money market trackers, such as those from Amundi (FR0010510800) or Xtrackers (LU0290358497). “Money market ETFs have established themselves in cash management.”
By Anna-Maria Borse, April 14, 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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