Gold ETF Inflows Remain Positive in H1 2026: WGC

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Global investment in gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) remained positive during the first half of 2026, even though June witnessed widespread investor withdrawals across all major regions, according to the latest data released by the World Gold Council (WGC).

Investors withdrew US$8.9 billion from physically backed gold ETFs due to increased profit-booking triggered by lower gold prices and changing market expectations. The global gold holdings reduced by 74 tonnes to 4,047 tonnes, while total assets under management (AUM) declined to US$526 billion by the end of June this year.

North American and European funds lost US$5.5bn and US$818mn, respectively, during the month. Asia recorded its weakest month ever in June, mainly due to heavy selling in China and Japan. However, India stood out by attracting fresh investments, with investors viewing the recent decline in gold prices as a buying opportunity.

Despite the sharp decline in June, gold ETFs still recorded net inflows of US$8 billion during the first six months of 2026. Asian markets led global demand, registering their strongest H1 performance on record, while Europe also witnessed healthy inflows. In contrast, North American funds reported net outflows during the half-yearly period, WGC report said.