Advisers turn to fixed income exchange funds

Advisors on the AUSIEX platform leaned heavily toward fixed income ETFs during the financial year ending 30 June 2026, according to the exchange’s own data.

Bond ETFs dominate adviser activity.

Trading volume spikes as advisers react to market swings

Overall adviser activity rose about 29 percent year‑over‑year. The increase came as advisers helped clients manage record‑high market levels and heightened geopolitical risk. Seven of the ten biggest trading days for advised investors coincided with days the ASX posted gains, a pattern that contrasted sharply with retail investors, whose biggest days mostly fell when the index slipped.

The exchange noted that ETFs behaved as an “exception” to broader market trends, with advisers adding more of these securities to portfolios than they sold.

Fixed income dominates the adviser‑focused ETF list

Across all ETF trades, fixed income accounted for roughly 38 percent of net inflows. The top‑performing fund was the VanEck Australian Subordinated Debt ETF, which made up 3.85 percent of total trades. Other frequently traded fixed income products included the Betashares Australian Credit Income Active ETF and the Coolabah Active Composite Bond Fund ETF.

In addition to debt‑focused funds, advisers also placed sizable orders in equity‑oriented ETFs such as the iShares S&P 500 ETF and the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF. The full list of the top ten ETFs, ranked by trading volume, featured a mix of domestic and international equity options and high‑interest cash funds.

“This trend was potentially boosted by demand for assets to replace bank hybrid securities in portfolios of yield‑hungry investors,” said Chris Hill, national director of distribution.

From a practical standpoint, the shift toward fixed income ETFs suggests advisers are seeking more predictable cash flows for clients who may be wary of volatile equity markets. By using bond‑focused ETFs, investors can gain exposure to a diversified basket of securities without the need to select individual bonds, which can be cumbersome for smaller portfolios.

Comparison with broader investor behavior

For readers seeking additional context on ETF trends, the Australian Securities Exchange maintains a public archive of trading data that can be accessed for deeper analysis.