Australian investors now have $329 billion invested in ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and March was the third-biggest month for net inflows ever.
It seems that the metals rout in January, and the global fuel crisis sparked by the war in Iran, has not dampened investors' enthusiasm.
Here are two ASX ETFs that are outperforming amid volatile market conditions in 2026.
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Betashares Crude Oil Index Currency Hedged Complex ETF (ASX: OOO)
The world's benchmark oil price, Brent Crude, is now trading 78% higher in the YTD at US$109.38 per barrel today.
Meantime, West Texas Intermediate oil is up 68% in the YTD at US$97.46 per barrel on Tuesday.
This gives investors exposure to WTI crude oil futures, rather than the spot price.
Betashares explains:
The price of oil futures contracts is not the same as the "spot price" of oil. As such, OOO does not aim to, and should not be expected to, provide the same return as the performance of this spot price.
The performance of an ETF that is linked to oil futures may be materially different to the performance of the spot price of oil itself.
This is because the process of "rolling" from one futures contract to the next to maintain investment exposure can result in either a cost or benefit to the Fund, affecting returns.
Global X Semiconductor ETF (ASX: SEMI)
The ASX SEMI is $32.08 apiece, down 1% today and up 37% in the YTD.
This ASX ETF is riding the wave of the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution playing out worldwide today.
Semiconductors are essential for controlling electrical currents in devices like computer chips and smartphones.
They are especially critical for AI because they power the high-performance processors and memory needed to train and run advanced AI models quickly and efficiently.
SEMI ETF tracks the Solactive Global Semiconductor 30 Index. As the name suggests, there are just 30 shares within this index.
The world's biggest semiconductor manufacturer, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, and semiconductor designers Broadcom and Nvidia Corp are SEMI ETF's three largest holdings.
Together, they represent 27% of the ASX ETF's total investments.
This ASX ETF began trading in 2021 and has $773 million in funds under management today.
