Tradeweb Markets : Exchange-Traded Funds Update – April 2026

Published: 2026-05-12 13:20:13 ET TW

Published on 05/12/2026 at 01:20 pm EDT

The following data is derived from trading activity on the Tradeweb Markets institutional European- and U.S.-listed ETF platforms.

Total traded volume

Trading activity on the Tradeweb European-listed ETF marketplace reached EUR 82.8 billion in April. The proportion of transactions and notional volume completed via Tradeweb's Automated Intelligent Execution (AiEX) tool amounted to 95% and 30%, respectively.

Adam Gould, Global Head of Equities at Tradeweb, said: "Despite a relatively softer backdrop compared to March's intense volatility, traded volumes remained strong in April, reflecting continued platform momentum. Institutional investors stayed active, using ETFs to adjust exposures and manage risk in a more measured environment, rather than stepping back from the market."

Volume breakdown

All ETF asset classes saw net buying during the month. Activity in equity products rose to 72% of total platform flow, five percentage points above the previous 12-month rolling average. North America Equities reclaimed its crown as the most heavily-traded ETF category, narrowly surpassing Global Equities by EUR 558 million.

Top ten by traded notional volume

Equity products once again dominated the monthly top ten by traded notional volume. The iShares Core EURO STOXX 50 UCITS (DE) ETF climbed seven places from March to take the top spot, last held in July 2025.

Total traded volume

Total consolidated U.S. ETF notional value traded in April reached USD 93.9 billion, while AiEX transactions represented 61% of all U.S. ETF tickets on the platform, an all-time high.

Adam Gould, Global Head of Equities at Tradeweb, said: "Global active client count grew by more than 5% year-over-year in April, driven by both new client adoption and deeper engagement from existing users. At the same time, record ticket numbers via AiEX highlight how automation is making participation more scalable and efficient across the buy-side."

Volume breakdown

As a percentage of total notional value, equities accounted for 61% and fixed income for 34%, with the remainder comprising commodity and specialty ETFs.

Top ten by traded notional volume

Fixed income ETFs made up half of April's top ten, spanning high yield, investment grade, and rates exposure. Compared to March, the three most actively-traded funds remained unchanged, with the Vanguard 500 Index Fund ETF ranked first for the sixth consecutive month.