WGC: Gold ETF flows stayed positive in H1 2026, with Asia setting a record

In its mid-year report, the World Gold Council said net inflows into gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) stayed positive in the first half of 2026 at $8 billion, despite sharp market volatility.

Asia posted its strongest H1 on record, attracting $12 billion, while North America was the only region with outflows, at $7.7 billion. In June alone, gold ETFs shed $8.9 billion.

Global gold, which briefly topped $5,500 intraday in January, pulled back to near $4,000 by late June and is now trading above $4,000. Steady Asian demand is one support for the global price, which also feeds through to Iran's domestic gold market.