iShares Trust Price & Performance (IBID)

The global ETF industry achieved a milestone, with assets under management hitting $15.5 trillion by February’s end. Significant inflows were led by the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust, which alone attracted $8.67 billion. Equity ETFs remained the preferred choice for investors during this period of strong market activity.1

The iShares Bitcoin Trust experienced a notable stock price jump, opening at $52.97 after closing at $47.90, and last trading at $51.01. Institutional interest continues to rise, with investors actively increasing their holdings in the fund, which tracks Bitcoin's spot price.2

Investor caution is rising as market volatility increases, with sentiment gauges like the Fear & Greed Index hitting "Extreme Fear" levels. Defensive ETFs, including those focused on gold and treasuries, are gaining traction as investors seek to hedge against potential downside risks in a turbulent economic environment.3