ETF's are a form of security designed to track a basket of stocks or
the physical of an underlying product. A Gold ETF tracks either the
price of gold or comprises a basket of gold shares designed to track
the price of the underlying gold stocks and gain exposure to rises and
falls in the price of gold. As an investing or trading vehicle, gold
exchange traded funds are perceived as a safe haven during inflation or
times or uncertainty.
When there is a movement in gold, a gold ETF is a great way to trade
short term momentum. As a loner term strategy, in times of inflation or
perceived risk, a gold ETF can be used as part of an overall investment
strategy.
An example of a Gold ETF's based on gold bullion
prices is the Streettracks gold ETF (GLD ETF), as traded on the New
York
Stock Exchange. Investors and traders can purchase a position in this
fund in the same way they buy and sell shares. A gold bullion ETF
offers a degree of flexibility to every trader or investors arsenal.
iShare Comex Gold (IAU) is another fund that is a
simple and effective way of replicating a similar investment in gold.
Van Eck's Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX)
This fund seeks to track and match the performance of the AMEX Gold
Miners Index by investing in a basket of gold stocks that generally
replicate the index.
The top 10 holdings of this Gold Exchange traded fund include the
following:
There many other Gold ETf's listed on foreign
Exchanges. They include the following:
ZKB Gold ETF: This product is listed and traded in
Switzerland.
Central Fund of Canada (CEF): This fund keeps the
bulk of its assets in gold and silver with an appointed custodian.
GOLD is an exchange traded fund based on the price
of gold bullion and traded on the Australian Stock Exchange.
In London, you can also traded in gold exchange
traded funds. (BULL) tracks the DJ-AIG Gold Sub Index. (PHAU) is backed
by allocated gold bullion.
Gold ETF's are also traded on the Indian, Japanese
and Paris exchanges. They are an alternative to holding the physical
asset or purchase futures on COMEX.