iShares Physical Gold

ETF description

This ETC provides investors with a way to invest in physical gold, by following the daily price of gold. It does this by owning gold bars.

This ETC may appeal to investors looks to include gold in their portfolio, without the need to hold it physically.

Issuer details

iShares ETFs are issued and managed by BlackRock, the world’s largest asset management company.

With 800+ products globally and over $2trn in assets (as at June 2024), iShares ETFs are a flexible, low‑cost way for investors to gain exposure to various market segments, including fixed income, emerging markets and broad‑based indexes.

Index details

This ETF tracks the price of gold, which is influenced by several factors.

Like most commodities, the balance between how much gold is available (supply) and how much people want to buy (demand) can affect its price. Also, in times of economic uncertainty or stock market fluctuations, investors may turn to gold as a ‘“safe haven”’, which can raise gold prices. As gold is priced in US dollars, the strength of key currencies, especially the U.S. dollar, impacts gold prices. Lower interest rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding non‑yielding assets like gold, potentially increasing its appeal and price.

These factors are interconnected, and can affect gold prices in complex ways.