A Strategic Resource for Thematic Investors

Thematic ETF Daily Trading Update

Thu, Jan 29, 2026 | U.S. Morning Setup

Macro & Equity Setup

S&P 500 futures +0.2% in early Thursday trading after U.S. equities finished flattish/mixed on Wednesday. Tech is leading again pre-market, while defensives and some consumer-facing groups are softer. Overseas, Asian equities were mixed (South Korea and Hong Kong stronger; Taiwan/India/Indonesia weaker) and Europe is higher (~+0.4%).

Cross-asset: Treasuries are unchanged to slightly weaker at the back end (yields +1–2 bp), DXY -0.2% (after a brief rebound Wednesday), gold +3.8% (after a near +4.5% jump Wednesday), silver +3.4% (after +7%+ Wednesday), copper +6%, bitcoin -1.4%, and WTI +2.4% amid renewed Iran-risk premium.

Prior Session Recap (Wed, Jan 28)

U.S. equities were narrowly mixed: Dow +0.02%, S&P 500 -0.01%, Nasdaq +0.17%, Russell 2000 -0.49%. The S&P briefly cleared 7,000 intraday before fading. Semiconductors extended leadership (again outperforming software by a wide margin), while precious metals and energy stayed firm. Treasuries weakened modestly (curve steepening), and the dollar stabilized after Tuesday’s sharp drop.

Macro Data & Key Events (Today / Near-term)

  • Today: final Q3 unit labor costs, initial claims, Nov trade balance, factory orders, and a $44B 7-year auction.
  • Narratives in play: markets continuing to look through headline risk, precious metals strength despite intermittent USD stabilization, and oil bid on Iran risk.
  • Earnings tone: “AI capex + monetization + capacity constraints” remains the dominant macro-to-micro bridge, with MSFT Azure/guide viewed as underwhelming, META guidance notably strong, and semi/memory complex supported by AI infrastructure demand signals.

Tail of the Tape

Thematic leadership continues to cluster around AI infrastructure and real assets. Semiconductors, memory, and networking ETFs are showing strong price momentum alongside sustained inflows, reflecting confidence in durable AI capex and near-term monetization. Uranium and nuclear themes remain standout performers across short- and intermediate-term horizons, supported by energy security concerns and power-demand growth tied to AI. Precious metals, led by gold, are acting as macro hedges with prices outpacing flows. In contrast, biotech, genomics, cannabis, and broad clean energy remain under pressure, with weak returns and persistent outflows, underscoring investor preference for scarcity, infrastructure, and cash-flow visibility over long-duration policy-dependent themes.

 

Performance & Flow Tables (Unlevered ETFs)

Top 10 / Bottom 10 — Daily Performance (1D %)

Top 10 daily gainers

Ticker Fund 1D % 1M % 3M % Flow 1D Flow 1M Flow YTD
URNM Sprott Uranium Miners ETF 8.49% 50.04% 37.67% -13.0M 69.6M 69.1M
URA Global X Uranium ETF 6.85% 41.28% 17.81% -14.6M 623.4M 384.1M
NLR VanEck Uranium and Nuclear ETF 5.57% 29.71% 9.86% 34.7M 318.9M 318.9M
SLV iShares Silver Trust 3.95% 48.48% 147.31% -758.4M -2.39B -2.53B
GLD SPDR Gold Shares 3.88% 18.67% 35.73% 419.0M 2.98B 3.06B
FTXL First Trust Nasdaq Semiconductor ETF 3.54% 20.58% 25.68% 0 12.3M 12.3M
SOXX iShares Semiconductor ETF 2.67% 17.78% 18.57% 210.8M 973.0M 759.2M
GDX VanEck Gold Miners ETF 2.63% 22.86% 59.04% -48.9M 113.3M 139.5M
QCLN First Trust Nasdaq Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund 2.61% 11.84% 12.90% 0 2.7M 2.7M
HYDR Global X Hydrogen ETF 2.54% 23.54% -1.51% 2.6K -2.1M -2.1M

Bottom 10 daily decliners

Ticker Fund 1D % 1M % 3M % Flow 1D Flow 1M Flow YTD
ARKG ARK Genomic Revolution ETF -2.90% -9.21% -12.26% -18.8M -93.7M -97.1M
CNBS Amplify Seymour Cannabis ETF -2.71% -7.63% -6.25% -2.7M -4.0M -2.7M
IDNA iShares Genomics Immunology and Healthcare ETF -2.53% -5.56% -6.27% -0.4M -2.4M -1.1M
MJ Amplify Alternative Harvest ETF -2.30% -8.08% -15.72% 0 -3.1M -3.1M
MSOS AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF -2.29% -8.43% -4.24% 0 0 0
XBI SPDR S&P Biotech ETF -2.19% -4.94% -7.64% -64.8M -547.8M -389.7M
IBB iShares Biotechnology ETF -1.83% -3.67% -6.12% -12.0M -223.6M -132.5M
ITA iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF -1.41% -2.66% -0.92% -33.2M -278.8M -244.5M
PBW Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF -1.40% -6.33% -14.58% -0.3M -5.8M -18.8M
TAN Invesco Solar ETF -1.29% -5.76% -10.36% -2.8M -36.8M -35.1M

Top 10 / Bottom 10 — 1-Month Performance (1M %)

Top 10 (1M return)

Ticker Fund 1D % 1M % 3M % Flow 1D Flow 1M Flow YTD
URNM Sprott Uranium Miners ETF 8.49% 50.04% 37.67% -13.0M 69.6M 69.1M
SLV iShares Silver Trust 3.95% 48.48% 147.31% -758.4M -2.39B -2.53B
URA Global X Uranium ETF 6.85% 41.28% 17.81% -14.6M 623.4M 384.1M
SIL Global X Silver Miners ETF 2.23% 32.56% 86.66% 3.0M 39.8M 9.0M
NLR VanEck Uranium and Nuclear ETF 5.57% 29.71% 9.86% 34.7M 318.9M 318.9M
GDX VanEck Gold Miners ETF 2.63% 22.86% 59.04% -48.9M 113.3M 139.5M
SOXX iShares Semiconductor ETF 2.67% 17.78% 18.57% 210.8M 973.0M 759.2M
GLD SPDR Gold Shares 3.88% 18.67% 35.73% 419.0M 2.98B 3.06B
SMH VanEck Semiconductor ETF 2.27% 17.50% 20.11% 172.6M 1.70B 1.80B
SOXQ Invesco PHLX Semiconductor ETF 2.43% 17.07% 18.84% 3.6M 60.9M 65.2M

Bottom 10 (1M return)

Ticker Fund 1D % 1M % 3M % Flow 1D Flow 1M Flow YTD
ARKG ARK Genomic Revolution ETF -2.90% -9.21% -12.26% -18.8M -93.7M -97.1M
MSOS AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF -2.29% -8.43% -4.24% 0 0 0
MJ Amplify Alternative Harvest ETF -2.30% -8.08% -15.72% 0 -3.1M -3.1M
CNBS Amplify Seymour Cannabis ETF -2.71% -7.63% -6.25% -2.7M -4.0M -2.7M
TAN Invesco Solar ETF -1.29% -5.76% -10.36% -2.8M -36.8M -35.1M
ICLN iShares Global Clean Energy ETF -0.66% -4.08% -4.65% -1.1M -5.8M -2.3M
XBI SPDR S&P Biotech ETF -2.19% -4.94% -7.64% -64.8M -547.8M -389.7M
IBB iShares Biotechnology ETF -1.83% -3.67% -6.12% -12.0M -223.6M -132.5M
PBW Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF -1.40% -6.33% -14.58% -0.3M -5.8M -18.8M
ARKK ARK Innovation ETF -0.58% -4.32% -4.42% -25.0M -190.3M -200.6M

Top 10 / Bottom 10 — YTD Fund Flows

Top 10 YTD inflows

Ticker Fund 1D % 1M % 3M % Flow 1D Flow 1M Flow YTD
VTI Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF 0.17% 1.17% 1.89% 269.4M 5.26B 4.79B
GLD SPDR Gold Shares 3.88% 18.67% 35.73% 419.0M 2.98B 3.06B
VCIT Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond ETF -0.05% 0.02% 0.08% 167.3M 3.44B 3.44B
BND Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF -0.04% 0.08% -0.05% 69.1M 3.55B 3.18B
SGOV iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF 0.01% 0.03% 0.16% 40.7M 2.88B 2.52B
SMH VanEck Semiconductor ETF 2.27% 17.50% 20.11% 172.6M 1.70B 1.80B
AGG iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF -0.06% 0.05% -0.11% 132.0M 2.31B 1.36B
SOXX iShares Semiconductor ETF 2.67% 17.78% 18.57% 210.8M 973.0M 759.2M
URA Global X Uranium ETF 6.85% 41.28% 17.81% -14.6M 623.4M 384.1M
NLR VanEck Uranium and Nuclear ETF 5.57% 29.71% 9.86% 34.7M 318.9M 318.9M

Bottom 10 YTD flows

Ticker Fund 1D % 1M % 3M % Flow 1D Flow 1M Flow YTD
SPY State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF -0.01% 0.74% 1.22% 3.58B -3.79B -11.78B
QQQ Invesco QQQ Trust Series I 0.17% 0.80% 0.20% -1.21B -3.22B -6.42B
IWM iShares Russell 2000 ETF -0.49% 4.85% 4.21% -388.3M -2.95B -2.73B
SLV iShares Silver Trust 3.95% 48.48% 147.31% -758.4M -2.39B -2.53B
EFA iShares MSCI EAFE ETF 1.10% 6.84% 4.83% 0 0 -3.02B
TLT iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF -0.06% 0.18% -1.09% -96.3M -1.03B -1.19B
VNQ Vanguard Real Estate ETF -0.21% 0.41% 1.63% -84.5M -361.8M -832.9M
XBI SPDR S&P Biotech ETF -2.19% -4.94% -7.64% -64.8M -547.8M -389.7M
ARKK ARK Innovation ETF -0.58% -4.32% -4.42% -25.0M -190.3M -200.6M
IYR iShares U.S. Real Estate ETF -0.23% 0.35% 1.64% -41.9M -206.2M -520.3M

 

Patrick Torbert

Editor | Chief Strategist

Patrick Torbert is a veteran financial market analyst who is currently the Editor and Chief at ETF Insight a NY based full-service content, TV, video podcast and digital marketing firm that represents several ETF issuers. Patrick brings 20+ years of experience from Fidelity Asset Management where he most recently served as an equity and multi-asset analyst.
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