Investors today aim for exposure to multiple markets in one seamless trade. That’s where top global ETFs come in: single-trade funds that provide instant diversification across regions, sectors, and asset classes. This guide explores the most liquid, widely followed top global ETFs, across equities, value stocks, bonds, and thematic strategies and explains why these funds attract interest from both retail and institutional investors alike.
Macro Global Markets gives you access to a wide range of ETFs so that you can choose which one works for you or even invest in a basket of ETFs if that’s what you want to do.
Why are ETFs so Popular?
ETFs have become popular among traders, with people flocking to top global ETFs and forgetting all about individual stock picking. But why all this new found attention for ETFs? It has been discovered by more people that the indices tend to have a long bias, meaning that price tends to rise over the long term. When professionals refer to an ETF, it’s generally in relation to the stock index market ETF, rather than particular idea-based ETFs that might have a focus on global AI or global tech etc.
Given the nature of stock index markets, ETFs create an easy way to follow the index and invest in a basket of stocks without having to pay extra fees and spread your portfolio too thin. In one share, you effectively own a basket of shares that are owned by that ETF that you buy.
ETFs take a bit of the pressure off stock selection and are often used in dollar cost averaging strategies. There’s a wide range of methods people might use to enter top global ETFs, particularly index market ETFs. This Long Only Strategy page covers some of the strategies people often consider.
Most Popular ETFs for Australians
There’s 2 main ETFs that are highly popular among Australian investors, which are the IOZ covering the ASX200 and the VOO covering the S&P500 largest US companies by market capitalisation. These are popular ETFs for Aussies because they encompass known indices of Australia and USA.
Why Global ETFs Matter
Global ETFs combine low cost, transparency, and convenience. As passive or indexed vehicles, they offer exposure to global equity benchmarks (like MSCI ACWI or FTSE All‑World), emerging markets, or factor-based strategies (e.g. value, dividend yield).
Industry data shows that SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) remains the world’s most liquid ETF by assets and trading volume, managed by State Street Global Advisors. Similarly, other large global ETFs, including Vanguard and iShares offerings, dominate flows due to their scale and investor familiarity.
Featured Global ETFs
1. Vanguard FTSE All‑World UCITS ETF (VWRL / VT)
Tracking the FTSE All‑World Index, this fund spans large and mid‑cap stocks across both developed and emerging markets (over 3,900 holdings). It’s a go‑to option for those seeking broad, world‑market exposure.
2. iShares MSCI ACWI ETF (ACWI)
ACWI provides comprehensive global coverage, over 2,800 stocks across 47 countries with strong liquidity and minimal tracking error, making it a staple for diversified portfolios.
3. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (EFV)
Focused on developed international markets outside the U.S., EFV targets value‑oriented large caps. It ranks as the largest value‑style ETF ex‑U.S., with over $26 billion in assets and a trailing yield of ~3.6%.
4. Vanguard International High Dividend ETF (VYMI)
Offering exposure to high dividend yielding companies globally ex‑U.S., VYMI provides both income and international diversification in one fund while maintaining low fees (~0.22%).
5. Dimensional International Value ETF (DFIV)
An actively managed global value ETF that has recently outperformed U.S. value funds. DFIV delivered ~12.2% YTD returns as of early 2025 by strictly excluding U.S. stocks, and currently ranks among the best global value strategies.
6. Global Bond Exposure: iShares Core Global Aggregate Bond UCITS ETF (AGGH)
Although not widely quoted in recent lists, AGGH is a premier global bond ETF, offering exposure to investment‑grade fixed income across multiple currencies and credit sectors.
Why These Funds Rank Among the Top Global ETFs
These ETFs combine scale (billions in AUM), liquidity (frequent trading volume), low expense ratios, and diversified exposure. According to ETF DB, the most heavily traded ETFs globally are typically U.S.-listed funds like SPY, but top global ETFs (like ACWI, VWRL) frequently feature among the top 100 most traded instruments due to institutional flows.
Choosing among the top global ETFs depends on your goals, broad equity exposure, international value, income or bonds. These hand‑picked funds provide high liquidity, deep diversification, and transparency. As always, investors should align their choices with their personal investment horizon and risk profile.
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