More Stories

Informist, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026

 

MUMBAI – Global gold-backed exchange-traded funds recorded the second-largest net monthly inflow in value terms of nearly $18 billion in August, the World Gold Council said in a report. Strong buying from North American and European investors lifted the holdings to a record high. The acceleration in ETF inflows reflected concerns over currency policy, fiscal sustainability, and bond markets, while rising gold prices and a break above key technical levels also supported tactical and institutional demand.

 

Global net inflows in August reached $17.9 billion, with holdings rising to 121 tonnes to a record 4,189 tonnes in August, surpassing the previous record high of 4,176 tonnes in February. The year-to-date global gold ETF inflows were $29 billion, equivalent to a 160-tonne increase in holdings. Total assets under management of gold ETFs jumped 16% on month to $615 billion, the WGC said.

 

Gold market activity also strengthened during August, with average daily trading volumes rising 21% on month to an average of $430 billion per day across all major market segments. Global gold ETF trading volumes surged 83% to $8.7 billion a day, it said.

 

REGIONS–WISE FLOWS

European-listed funds recorded the strongest monthly inflow on record of $7.9 billion. The European demand was likely driven by gold's role as a portfolio diversifier and an alternative to sovereign debt amid persistent concerns over fiscal sustainability and high sovereign borrowing costs, the council said. The region's ETF buying was led by the UK, recording its second-largest monthly inflow on record, while France registered the strongest monthly inflows.

 

North American-listed funds attracted $7.7 billion in August, their third-largest monthly inflow on record. "August's strong inflow helped offset the region's record $13 billion outflow in March," the council said. The region's funds flowed back into positive year-to-date territory. The US recorded the highest net inflows of $8.3 billion, with holdings at 2,015 tonnes.

 

Asian gold ETFs attracted $2 billion in August, the strongest monthly inflow since February. China accounted for most of the regional inflows as stabilising and rebounding local gold prices attracted investor interest. "Continued declines in (Chinese) local government bond yields and a range-bound equity market likely provided additional support," WGC said.

 

India and Japan also recorded modest inflows, aided by improved performance in gold prices. India saw an inflow of $260 million in August, with its holding totalling 121 tonnes. None of the Indian mutual funds figure in the list of top 10 or bottom 10 funds in terms of inflows.  

 

US$1 = INR 95.44

 

Reported by Somen Bose

Edited by Shubhayan Bhattacharya

 

For users of real-time market data terminals, Informist news is available exclusively on the NSE Cogencis WorkStation.

 

Cogencis news is now Informist news. This follows the acquisition of Cogencis Information Services Ltd. by NSE Data & Analytics Ltd., a 100% subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. As a part of the transaction, the news department of Cogencis has been sold to Informist Media Pvt. Ltd.

 

Informist Media Tel +91 (22) 6985-4000 

Send comments to feedback@informistmedia.com

 

© Informist Media Pvt. Ltd. 2026. All rights reserved.