US ETFs Attract $180B in August, State Street Reports

State Street Investment Management’s monthly report shows investors put $180 billion into US-listed exchange-traded funds in August, roughly 3.8 times the historical August average and pushing year-to-date inflows above $1.4 trillion.

The firm noted the large monthly flows occurred despite persistent macroeconomic uncertainty and the usual seasonal slowdown in markets.

By asset class, bond ETFs attracted about $55 billion in August, bringing year-to-date inflows to $407 billion. At that pace, State Street noted the bond category is on track to surpass the prior annual record of $448 billion in September.

Equity ETFs drew roughly $103 billion in August, marking the fifth consecutive month with more than $100 billion of inflows.

Active ETFs collected $62 billion in August, pushing year-to-date active ETF inflows above $500 billion. Within equities, active derivative-income and dividend equity strategies together have attracted nearly $100 billion so far this year.

Sector flows shifted in August: technology-focused ETFs recorded about $6 billion of outflows, financials lost roughly $5 billion and health care funds attracted around $2.2 billion.

State Street’s data track flows into US-listed ETFs through August and show continued demand for both passive and active ETF products.