After a steep 9.1% drop between 27 February and 23 March, the ASX 200 recovered a bit to finish the month down 7.8%.

In April so far, ASX 200 shares are 1.05% higher after the US signalled yesterday that it may be out of Iran within two or three weeks.

James Gerrish from Shaw and Partners says the "war fear" in the market is now fading.

While the road out may be volatile, Gerrish and his Market Matters team are bullish on ASX 200 shares for the rest of the year.

In fact, they think the ASX 200 could re-test its all-time high of 9,200.9 points later in the year, if the Iran situation is resolved soon.

In his Market Matters newsletter today, Gerrish has named 3 ETFs to buy before the rally really gets started.

3 ASX ETFs to buy today: expert

Global X Copper Miners ETF (ASX: WIRE)

The WIRE ETF is $122.42 apiece on Thursday, down 1.2% today and down 17.9% over the past month.

The Market Matters team is targeting $30 for this exchange-traded fund over the next year or so.

The experts said:

Copper (Cu) has experienced a volatile few weeks as the Iran conflict brought into question global economic growth, even though it's underpinned by structural demand from industrial uses, particularly global electrification and the AI buildout.

At MM, we remain firm believers in the Cu story over the coming years and last month increased our exposure to Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR) and bought Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) to increase our exposure to the industrial metal in the Active Growth Portfolio after the sector's 32% correction from its late January high.

A close above $24 would be a bullish technical trigger.

VanEck Gold Miners ETF (ASX: GDX)

This ASX gold ETF is $137.67 per unit, up 0.6% today and down 19% over the past month.

The Market Matters team is targeting the $160 area for the GDX ETF through 2026.

They said:

The GDX ETF gained more than 4% on Wednesday, though the move felt stronger locally with most ASX gold miners rallying 6–8%.

After a ~35% correction, the sector appears to have completed the anticipated washout following its surge to fresh highs in 2026.

We believe the broader uptrend remains intact, although a period of consolidation around ~$150 would not be surprising.

A close above $142 would be a bullish technical trigger.

BetaShares Global Uranium ETF (ASX: URNM)

This ASX uranium ETF is $12.28 per unit, down 0.6% today and down 7.9% over the past month.

The Market Matters team said they like the URNM ETF after a 29% pullback, and remain constructive on the uranium sector.

They commented:

At MM, we believe nuclear power is the obvious clean energy source that works today, with US big tech agreeing, as they pour money into Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).

Nuclear power accounts for ~10% of global electricity generation today with demand set to rise substantially over the coming years as AI usage ratchets up.

With the uranium market transitioning into a structural tightening phase, and a high probability of deficit emerging later this decade, the URNM ETF should push higher in the coming years.

A close above $12.60 would be a bullish technical trigger.

The post 3 ASX ETFs to buy before the rally really takes off: expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

A new report from VanEck suggests that this could be an opportunity for investors to buy the dip. 

Gold is currently trading around US$4,600 per ounce, down approximately 22% from its all-time high of US$5,595 in late January.

While the drawdown is significant, in our view it is presenting a compelling entry point for investors looking to add gold exposure.

What's causing the dip?

VanEck CEO Jan van Eck addressed the recent pullback, highlighting that several forces have hit gold simultaneously. 

He outlined that these drivers appear cyclical and technical rather than structural. 

Firstly, gold had been trading well above its long-term averages, making a short-term correction unsurprising. 

VanEck reinforced this move below the 200-day moving average aligns with normal pullbacks often seen during longer-term bull markets, rather than indicating a lasting bearish shift.

Additionally, ongoing tensions involving the US and Iran, along with pressure on energy-related revenues, may have led some sovereign investors to sell gold holdings to raise immediate cash. 

This appears to reflect temporary funding stress rather than any fundamental decline in long-term interest in gold.

Why gold shares could be set for a rebound

Despite recent volatility, VanEck said the structural drivers of gold remain firmly in place and in some cases are strengthening.

While the immediate impact of the conflict has pressured gold, history shows that oil shock events ultimately drive higher inflation and macro uncertainty, conditions under which gold has historically performed strongly.

VanEck said during previous oil-shock conflicts, particularly the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the 1979 Iranian Revolution and the 1991 Gulf War, gold demand surged over the medium term as investors priced in higher inflation and persistent macro uncertainty.

The current conflict has disrupted roughly 20% of global seaborne oil supply, the largest such disruption in modern history.

Looking through the volatility, we think the current environment continues to support gold's role as a strategic portfolio allocation and reinforces the case for adding exposure at current levels.

How to invest in gold shares

The ASX is home to many gold mining and production shares. 

Two of the largest ASX listed gold shares include: 

• Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM)
• Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST)

There are also ASX ETFs that provide exposure to gold shares through a basket of miners, or tracking the spot price of gold: 

• Vaneck Gold Bullion ETF (ASX: NUGG)
• VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF (ASX: GDX)
• Global X Physical Gold (ASX: GOLD)

The post Should you buy the dip on gold shares? Expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The gold price rose to record highs, and along with it, many ASX gold shares. 

These companies also benefited from its position as a safe-haven asset.

Tariff fears, geopolitical uncertainty and global conflicts influenced investors decisions to push towards safe-haven assets like gold. 

Leading the way in 2025 were: 

• Pantoro Gold Ltd (ASX: PNR) rose 220%
• Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG) shares climbed 206%
• Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) share price roared 196% 
• Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) shares increased 194%
• Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU), up 121%

Among the largest gold mining companies: 

• Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) rose by 73% in 2025.
• Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) shares climbed 164%
• Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) shares increased 152%.

What is happening in 2026?

According to Trading Economics, gold prices have climbed more than 16% year to date. 

Although the continuing conflict in the Middle East has influenced volatility.

Despite global gold prices rising, many of these red hot ASX gold shares have stumbled in 2026. 

Let's look how the best performing shares from last year are tracking so far in 2026. 

The only one in the positive at the time of writing is Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG) which is up 12.9%. 

The other four: 

• Pantoro Gold Ltd (ASX: PNR) down 26% 
• Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) down 7.4%
• Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) down almost 15%
• Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) has fallen 7.4%

Among the largest gold mining companies, since the start of 2026, Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) is up 7% and Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) is up 3%, while Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) is down 15%. 

What does this tell us?

There's more that influences gold miners and producers than just the global commodity price. 

Gold miners and producers are influenced not just by the global gold price but also by operational performance, including production costs, mine efficiency, and reserves. 

Exploration success and new discoveries can boost a miner's value, while project delays or cost overruns can hurt it. 

Regulatory, environmental, and political risks in mining jurisdictions can affect production and investor confidence. 

Finally, currency fluctuations, interest rates, and investor sentiment in equity markets also play a significant role in share price movements.

Global diversity with gold ASX ETFS

For investors looking to gain exposure to gold shares, without selecting specific companies, may benefit from more diverse gold ETFs. 

These funds can spread the risk across more than just Australian gold miners. 

Some options include: 

• Etfs Metal Securities Australia – Etfs Physical Gold (ASX: GOLD) – Tracks the price of physical gold with bullion held in London vaults.
• BetaShares Global Gold Miners ETF – Currency Hedged (ASX: MNRS) – comprises the largest global gold mining companies (ex-Australia), hedged into Australian dollars.
• VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF (ASX: GDX) – Provides exposure to a basket of global and Australian gold mining companies rather than the metal itself.

Alternatively, here are emerging ASX gold companies UBS has picked as winners. 

The post Which ASX gold shares have risen the most in 2026? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

A new report from VanEck has shed light on the sectors that may hold up in this current environment. 

Global energy fragility 

According to VanEck, The Middle East crisis has reinforced how fragile global energy security is, particularly given Iran's role in oil production and the Strait of Hormuz chokepoint. 

As a result, investors are wondering how best to position themselves for the turmoil.

VanEck said we may be moving from a short-lived shock to a conflict that could last months, disrupting crude oil and LNG supply and affecting the energy system's core infrastructure, transport, production, and refining.

We think gold, defence, commodities and quality are structurally positioned for this environment.

Gold still a safe-haven 

VanEck said gold is supported by central bank accumulation, fiscal deterioration and geopolitical uncertainty.

Since the crisis broke out, gold has risen back above US$5,200/oz on safe-haven demand, and we think it is expected to push further.

According to the report, the structural drivers for gold, central banks accumulating at the fastest pace since Bretton Woods, US fiscal deterioration and the slow unwinding of dollar hegemony were in place before the Middle East conflict. 

The Strait of Hormuz threat, if it materialises, introduces the prospect of an inflationary oil shock on top of an already uncertain rate environment. That combination, geopolitical uncertainty plus inflation risk, is an environment in which gold has historically performed best.

For investors looking to gain exposure to gold shares, options include: 

• Vaneck Gold Bullion ETF (ASX: NUGG)
• VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF (ASX: GDX) – gives investors instant access to 92 of the largest and most liquid global gold mining companies.

Defence 

VanEck also noted defence spending was already in a structural upcycle; the conflict has accelerated the long-term repricing of security.

In terms of defence, if investors think long-term yields are near their highs, they could consider layering in duration, at the same time, with short-term rates rising, the yields on floating rate exposures will increase as rates rise. In addition, US Treasuries offer a potential portfolio hedge against risk-off periods and periods of rising rates.

ASX ETFs to consider in this sector include: 

• Vaneck Global Defence Etf (ASX: DFND)
• Betashares Global Defence ETF – Beta Global Defence ETF (ASX: ARMR). 

More information on global defence ETFs can be found here.

Energy and quality 

Furthermore, demand for traditional energy has increased, and investors are once again turning to traditional resources as well as critical minerals for strategic portfolio exposures. 

In terms of quality investing: 

The uncertainty creates volatility and quality companies tend to do relatively well in these environments as investors seek companies with stronger balance sheets and stable earnings.

Real assets also tend to perform relatively well because they provide tangible, consistent cash flows and act as inflation hedges.

For investors seeking energy and quality focussed exposure: 

• VanEck Vectors Msci World Ex Australia Quality ETF (ASX: QUAL)
• VanEck Australian Resources ETF (ASX: MVR)

The post How to position your ASX portfolio in the current environment – Expert appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The gold price is continuing its recovery from the recent commodities rout, trading near a one-week high of $5,048 per ounce.

The gold price ripped to a record US$5,608 per ounce on 27 January.

A major sell-off began two days later on news of a hawkish Fed chair nominee, which sparked profit-taking in the metals markets.

The gold price rose by 27% in 2024 and 65% last year.

In 2026 so far, the yellow metal is still up by an impressive 16.7% despite the sell-off.

What's next for the gold price?

The most ambitious prediction for the gold price this year comes from Julia Du of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC).

ICBC is a partially state-owned multinational bank and the largest in the world by total asset value at $6.6 trillion, according to S&P Global.

Du says the gold price could crack the US$7,000 per ounce mark this year.

I expect 2026 to be a year of heightened geopolitical risk and strong safe-haven demand, allowing gold to continue the volatile yet upward trend.

Central banks are likely to keep adding to reserves, institutional investors will increase portfolio allocations, and retail demand – especially in Latin America – should remain robust.

Combined with continued Fed rate cuts, these forces support a bullish bias.

Temporary easing of tensions could trigger price pullbacks, but strong buying interest should limit downside.

Du is the most optimistic among scores of experts whose forecasts feature in the 2026 LBMA Annual Precious Metals Forecast Survey.

She predicts a peak of US$7,150 per ounce in 2026 and a low of US$4,100 per ounce during brief corrections, like the one we just saw.

Du is not alone in seeing potential for the gold price to rise through US$7,000 per ounce.

UBS also sees potential for the gold price to ascend beyond US$7,000 per ounce under the right circumstances.

In a note, UBS strategists Wayne Gordon and Giovanni Staunovo say the gold price could trade as high as US$7,200 per ounce and as low as US$4,600 per ounce in 2026.

… we now project an upside scenario target of USD 7,200/oz and a downside scenario of USD 4,600/oz (this is close to a one standard deviation move).

A hawkish pivot by the Federal Reserve could heighten risks to the downside, while a steep escalation in geopolitical tensions could bring us closer to the upside scenario.

Gold continues to be rated as Attractive, and we maintain a long position in our global asset allocation.

3 drivers for the gold price in 2026

Du says the three primary drivers of the gold price this year start with continuing central bank purchases to counter geopolitical risks.

Although prices are high, these purchases are strategic and relatively insensitive to price fluctuations.

The second driver will be institutional allocations, with Du commenting:

Last year's sharp gold rally highlighted its growth potential beyond safe-haven status.

With U.S. equities facing possible downturns, institutions are likely to boost gold allocations in their portfolios.

The third driver will be demand for physical gold amid social unrest in some parts of the world.

Social instability drives consumers to seek physical gold, especially in regions with severe currency depreciation and escalating conflicts such as Latin America.

Similar trends are emerging globally as more consumers recognise gold's investment value.

Record amounts flowing into gold ETFs

Across the global markets, gold ETFs received a record net inflow of US$19 billion (A$27.3 billion) last month.

According to the World Gold Council, gold ETFs now have a record US$669 billion in assets under management (AUM).

ASX gold ETFs attracted a net inflow of US$202 million in January, bringing local AUM to US$8.6 billion.

In 2025, Betashares Global Gold Miners Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: MNRS) was the highest returning ASX ETF holding overseas shares.

The MNRS ETF gave a total return, including dividends, of 149% last year.

The second-best performer was VanEck Gold Miners ETF (ASX: GDX), which returned 144%.

The market's largest physical gold ETF, Global X Physical Gold (ASX: GOLD), returned 54% in 2025.

The post Could the gold price reach US$7,000 per ounce? This expert thinks so appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The inflows plus a 14% rise in the gold price pushed global gold ETF assets under management to a record US$669 billion.

That's a 20% increase on December.

Collective global holdings of the safe-haven asset rose by 120 tonnes to 4,145 tonnes, also a record high.

Asia invested a net $10 billion in gold ETFs in January, its strongest month ever, while the US invested $7 billion, its second-best month.

Europe invested a net $2 billion amid escalating geopolitical tensions over Greenland, which drove continued interest in gold ETFs.

Here in Australia, ASX gold ETFs attracted US$202 million in inflows, taking local AUM to US$8.6 billion.

What happened to the gold price in January?

The gold price reached a record US$5,608 per ounce during the month.

The commodities rout that started on 29 January put a three-day drag on gold's otherwise impressive monthly performance.

The council said investors appeared to buy the dip, with all regions bar Europe recording net inflows on 30 January and 2 February.

The gold price fell from US$5,608 per ounce on 29 January to $US4,405  per ounce on 2 February before commencing a rebound.

By the market close on Friday (Australian time), the gold price had recovered to about US$4,870 per ounce.

Interested in ASX gold ETFs?

Global asset manager, Sprott, which runs one of the world's largest gold bullion investment funds, says the reasons to invest in gold "remain in place, but are also compounding".

If you're interested in ASX gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs), here are three options.

Betashares Global Gold Miners Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: MNRS)

The MNRS ETF invests in 56 gold shares, with 44% in Canada, 14% in the US, 13% in South Africa, and 8% in Brazil.

Its largest holding is Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM), which has CDIs listed on the ASX as Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM).

MNRS tracks the Nasdaq Global ex-Australia Gold Miners Hedged AUD Index.

This ASX ETF has total net assets of $267 million and a management fee of 0.57%.

VanEck Gold Miners AUD ETF (ASX: GDX)

The GDX ETF invests in 93 shares, with 44% in Canada, 20% in the US, 11% in Australia, and 6% in China.

The ASX gold ETF's biggest holding is Newmont shares.

GDX is also invested in Aussie miners like Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) and Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN).

This ETF has total net assets of $1.61 billion and a 0.53% fee.

Global X Physical Gold (ASX: GOLD)

The GOLD ETF seeks to mirror the performance of the gold price in Australian dollars.

The index it tracks is the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index (AUD).

Global X says GOLD is the largest and most liquid gold-backed ETF on the ASX, with the lowest bid/ask spread.

This ETF has total net assets of $6 billion and a 0.4% fee.

The post Gold ETFs attracted a record US$19 billion in January appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Here are four examples.

Betashares Global Gold Miners Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: MNRS)

The MNRS ETF gave a total return, including dividends, of 149% last year.

MNRS tracks the Nasdaq Global ex-Australia Gold Miners Hedged AUD Index.

The MNRS ETF invests in 56 gold shares, with 44% in Canada, 14% in the US, 13% in South Africa, and 8% in Brazil.

Its largest holding is Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM), which has CDIs listed on the ASX as Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM).

Newmont CDI shares are the only Aussie representation in the fund.

This ASX ETF has total net assets of $301 million and a management fee of 0.57%.

MNRS ETF is $20.01 per unit, up 2.62% today.

VanEck Gold Miners AUD ETF (ASX: GDX)

The GDX ETF gave a total return of 139% last year.

The GDX ETF invests in 93 shares, with 44% in Canada, 20% in the US, 11% in Australia, and 6% in China.

The biggest holding is Newmont shares, and it's also invested in Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) and Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN).

This ETF has total net assets of $1.9 billion and a 0.53% fee.

GDX ETF is $166.60 per unit, up 2.21% today.

Global X Physical Silver Structured (ASX: ETPMAG)

The ETPMAG ETF delivered 133% returns last year.

This ETF simply tracks the silver price, so it pays no dividends.

The silver price ripped 147% higher last year. But get this: as of today, the commodity is up 272% year over year. It's nuts!

Silver is a key input for solar panels, electric vehicles, data centres, and modern tech equipment such as smartphones and laptops.

The commodity was added to the US Critical Minerals list in November due to a global shortage and rising demand.

ETPMAG is backed by physical silver. Each physical bar is segregated, individually identified, and allocated.

This ASX ETF has total net assets of $2 billion and a 0.49% fee.

ETPMAG ETF is $154.99 per unit, up 1.77% at the time of writing.

Global X is further capturing silver's run by launching a brand-new ETF this week, the Global X Silver Miners ETF (ASX: SLVM). 

Global X Physical Platinum Structured (ASX: ETPMPT)

The ETPMPT ETF gave a total return of 109% last year.

Like gold and silver, platinum is flying. The metal's price rose 125% in CY25 and is currently up 170% over 12 months.

Platinum is one of six metals in the Platinum Group Elements (PMEs).

PMEs are on the critical minerals lists of many countries, including the US and Australia.

Platinum is primarily used in the automotive industry. It's in the catalytic converters that reduce a vehicle's emissions.

ETPMPT is also backed by physical platinum, with segregated, individually identified, and allocated bars.

This ASX ETF has total net assets of $123 million and a 0.49% fee.

ETPMPT ETF is $359.07 per unit, up 1.05% today.

The post 4 ASX ETFs that produced 110% to 150% returns in 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The gold price ripped to a new record of US$4,958 per ounce in earlier trading on Friday.

Analysts at Trading Economics say the gold price is on track for its strongest week since March 2020.

This is primarily due to high levels of ongoing central bank buying, lingering geopolitical risks, and a weaker US dollar. 

Amid these tailwinds, GDX ETF has delivered stunning gains to ASX investors.

In CY25, GDX produced a total return of 143.76%, making it the second-best-performing ETF of the 423 on the market.

The gold price rose by 65% in 2025 and 27% in 2024 as central banks sought to diversify their reserves from the US dollar.

Central banks also see gold as a safe-haven investment amid unpredictable geopolitics.

US tariffs and uncertainty over the US President's next moves on global trade have weakened the US currency.

Expectations of further US interest rate cuts also continue to support gold, and investors are highly optimistic.

Large inflows into international gold ETFs and ASX gold ETFs in the second half of 2025 provided more support for the gold price.

What is GDX ETF?

The GDX ETF seeks to mirror the performance of the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index (AUD) Index.

ASX GDX invests in 93 stocks, with 44% in Canada, 20% in the US, 11% in Australia, and 6% in China.

Its largest holding is also Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM) shares.

It also holds Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) shares at 2.7% of investments and Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) at 2%.

Let's consider what would have happened if you invested $10,000 in GDX a year ago.

Total investment return on $10,000

On 23 January 2025, GDX ETF closed at $60.13 apiece.

If you had invested $10,000 then, it would have bought you 166 units (for $9,981.58).

There's been capital growth of $97.83 per unit since then, which equates to a staggering $16,239.78 in dollar terms!

So, your GDX holding is now worth $26,221.36.

GDX ETF also paid a 63-cent dividend last year, which gave you $104.58 in income.

Your capital gain of $16,239.78 plus your dividends of $104.58 represent a total return of 164% over 12 months.

Now, just for fun, calculate in your head how many months of wages it would take to earn the $16,344.26 that GDX earned for you.

The mind boggles.

The post $10,000 invested in GDX ETF a year ago is now worth… appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The gold price is up 0.5% to US$4,958 per ounce, a new record, at the time of writing.

ASX gold shares and ASX gold ETFs are going nuts on Friday.

Get this: the S&P/ASX All Ords Gold Index (ASX: XGD) soared 1,322 points higher to a record 21,612.2 points this morning.

That equates to a staggering 6.5% gain in one day. By comparison, the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is up 0.34%.

The screaming gold price continues to defy expectations.

Just three months ago, top broker Goldman Sachs predicted that gold would rise to US$4,900 per ounce by the end of 2026.

Well, that happened today, and it's only January.

The broker conducted a poll of institutional investors in November and found one in three expect gold to go above US$5,000 per ounce.

That seems increasingly likely.

The gold price is up by just under 15% in the year to date.

The market pushed the yellow metal 7% higher this past week alone after US President Donald Trump slapped a new 10% tariff on goods from eight European nations to punish their opposition to his aspirations to buy Greenland.

The gold price rocketed 65% in 2025, following a 27% gain in 2024, largely due to central banks diversifying away from the US dollar.

Let's see what ASX gold shares and ETFs are doing today.

Hold on to your hats… this is going to be fun.

ASX gold shares soar as gold price hits new record

Let's focus on the large-cap ASX gold shares first.

The Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) share price is up 6.23% to $27.81.

Northern Star shares dropped 8.1% yesterday after the miner disappointed the market with its December quarter report.

Northern Star's report, significant because it's the largest gold miner by market cap on the ASX, combined with news of lower unemployment in Australia, which raised the prospects of an interest rate hike this year, weighed on gold shares and ETFs yesterday.

The Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) share price is up 6.59% to $15.04.

Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) shares are up 4.64% to $179.90 apiece.

Among the mid-cap ASX gold shares, Ramelius Resources Ltd (ASX: RMS) shares are up 8.3% to $4.96.

The Greatland Resources Ltd (ASX: GGP) share price is up 9.81% to $14.22.

The Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) share price is $8.06, up 8.04%.

Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) shares are up 6.6% to $6.46 apiece.

Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) shares are up 6.67% to $7.76.

The Capricorn Metals Ltd (ASX: CMM) share price is up 4% to $15.47.

Vault Minerals Ltd (ASX: VAU) shares are up 4.76% to $5.94 apiece.

Regis Resources Ltd (ASX: RRL) shares are up 8.64% to $8.24.

How about ASX small-cap gold shares?

Among the small-cap ASX gold shares, Resolute Mining Ltd (ASX: RSG) shares are up 8.14% to $1.40.

The Pantoro Gold Ltd (ASX: PNR) share price is 5.83% higher at $5.45.

Meeka Metals Ltd (ASX: MEK) shares are up 3.57% to 29 cents.

Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd (ASX: KCN) shares are up 2.48% to $7.03 apiece.

The Golden Horse Minerals Ltd CDI (ASX: GHM) share price is 0.64% higher at 79 cents.

Black Cat Syndicate Ltd (ASX: BC8) shares are up 5.24% to $1.56.

(By the way, Warwick Grigor, an analyst at Far East Capital, offered some advice on how to select small-cap gold stocks to buy this week.)

What about ASX gold ETFs?

The Betashares Global Gold Miners Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: MNRS) streaked 4.87% to a record $18.94 per unit today.

MNRS was the best performer among the 423 ETFs on the Australian share market last year.

The VanEck Gold Miners AUD ETF (ASX: GDX) is up 4.54% to $157.45.

Perth Mint Gold (ASX: PMGOLD) is up 2.29% to $71.92 per unit.

Global X Physical Gold (ASX: GOLD) is up 2.63% to $66.27 per unit.

VanEck Australian Resources ETF (ASX: MVR), the No. 1 performer among ETFs holding ASX shares in 2025, is up 1.22% to $47.41.

The post ASX gold shares go crazy as gold price rips toward US$5,000 on Friday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Access to global markets is one of the reasons Australians sank a net $53 billion into ETFs last year, up 75% on 2024.

There is now $331 billion invested across 423 ETFs on the market, according to Betashares data.

The Australian Securities Exchange has just released the full-year performance data for ASX ETFs in 2025.

Here, we look at the six ETFs holding international shares that delivered the best total returns last year.

Top 6 ASX ETFs holding international shares

The green energy transition and strongly rising commodity prices were the key themes across the top six ETFs for 2025.

1. Betashares Global Gold Miners ETF — Currency Hedged (ASX: MNRS)

MNRS ETF was the best-performing ETF holding international shares last year.

The Global Gold Miners ETF delivered an astounding total return of 155.87%. The historical distribution yield is 0.2%.

MNRS was pushed higher by the surging gold price, which propelled gold mining stocks worldwide.

The gold price rose 65% in 2025, its greatest annual rise in more than four decades, after a 27% gain in 2024.

This ETF's currency hedging proved very valuable in 2025 as the USD weakened against the AUD. We explain the impact here.

MNRS ETF is $18.04 per unit on Thursday, down 4.25%.

2. VanEck Gold Miners ETF (ASX: GDX)

The VanEck Gold Miners ETF delivered a similarly stunning return of 143.76%. The historical distribution yield is 0.48%.

GDX ETF is $150.60 per unit, down 5.9% at the time of writing.

3. Global X Physical Silver Structured (ASX: ETPMAG)

The ETPMAG ETF delivered a remarkable return of 132.84% with no dividends paid.

The silver price skyrocketed in 2025 by a staggering 147% due to tighter supply and demand.

Silver is a key input in solar panels, electric vehicles, and AI infrastructure like data centres due to its superior conductivity to copper.

Technology manufacturers also use silver to build circuits, connectors, and to solder metals in smartphones and laptops.

The commodity was added to the US Critical Minerals list in November.

ETPMAG ETF is $123.67 per unit, down 4% at the time of writing.

4. Global X Physical Platinum Structured (ASX: ETPMPT)

The ETPMPT ETF more than doubled in value with a total return of 109.49%. No dividends were paid.

Platinum is one of six metals in the Platinum Group Elements (PMEs).

PMEs are on the critical minerals lists of many countries, including the US, Australia, Europe, the UK, India, and Japan.

Platinum is used in catalytic converters in low-emissions cars, aerospace alloys, chemical refining, and petroleum processing .

ETPMPT ETF is $323 per unit, down 3.6% today.

5. Betashares Energy Transition Metals ETF (ASX: XMET)

The XMET ETF delivered a fantastic one-year return of 100.47%. The historical distribution yield is 0.19%.

XMET ETF is $17.49 per unit, down 2.4%.

6. Global X Green Metal Miners ETF (ASX: GMTL)

The GMTL ETF produced an impressive total return of 81.01%. The historical distribution yield is 0.19%.

GMTL ETF is $15.23 per unit, up 0.2%.

Further reading

Check out the six best-performing ETFs holding ASX shares for 2025.

The post Astronomical returns: Best 6 ASX ETFs holding international shares for 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Their outstanding performance came on the back of a 65% rally in the gold price — its best year for growth since 1979.

And that was on top of a 27% gain in 2024.

The gold price reached a new record high of US$4,533 per ounce in December 2025.

That has since been surpassed at US$$4,642.58 this month.

The gold price has been on a tear since early 2024, driven by central banks buying the yellow metal.

Goldman Sachs Research analyst Lina Thomas said central banks have increased their gold purchases by fivefold since 2022.

The catalyst was Russia's foreign-currency reserves being frozen following its invasion of Ukraine.

Goldman Sachs says central banks hoarding gold is a long-term structural shift.

The banks see gold as a hedge amid waning confidence in the US dollar.

US tariffs and uncertainty over the US President's next moves on global trade and geopolitics have weighed on the US currency.

Central banks also see gold as a safe-haven investment amid increasingly volatile geopolitics.

Expectations of further interest rate cuts in the world's biggest economy continue to support the gold price.

Investors remain highly optimistic about gold, with particularly large inflows into gold ETFs worldwide in the second half of 2025.

Some gold ETFs invest in physical gold, while others invest in gold miners.

Here are two ASX gold mining ETFs that delivered triple-digit returns for investors last year.

Betashares Global Gold Miners Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: MNRS)

The MNRS ETF gave a total return of 149% in 2025.

MNRS seeks to mirror the performance of the Nasdaq Global ex-Australia Gold Miners Hedged AUD Index.

The MNRS ETF invests in 56 gold shares, with 44% in Canada, 14% in the US, 13% in South Africa, and 8% in Brazil.

Its largest holding is Newmont Corporation (NYSE: NEM), which is dual listed on the ASX as Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM).

There are no other ASX gold shares in the fund.

This ASX ETF has total net assets of $262 million and a management fee of 0.57%.

VanEck Gold Miners AUD ETF (ASX: GDX)

The GDX ETF gave a total return of 139% in 2025.

The GDX ETF invests in 93 stocks, with 44% in Canada, 20% in the US, 11% in Australia, and 6% in China.

Its largest holding is also Newmont Corp shares.

It also holds Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) shares at 2.7% of investments and Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) at 2%.

This ETF has total net assets of $1.71 billion and a 0.53% fee.

The post 2 ASX ETFs that delivered triple-digit returns in 2025 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Throughout 2025, themes that brought big returns included gold, silver and other commodities. 

Similarly, global defence shares skyrocketed due to government spending and key contracts. 

For investors looking to gain access to these kinds of themes or sectors, ASX ETFs provide exposure to a group of similar stocks in one trade. 

With that in mind, here are three examples of such funds from VanEck that performed well in 2025. 

VanEck Investments Limited – VanEck Vectors Gold Miners ETF (ASX: GDX)

Gold shares emerged as one of the clear share market winners last year. 

This fund from VanEck was able to capture those gains. 

It is made up of a portfolio of 92 companies involved in the gold mining industry. 

These companies are mostly based in Canada (45%), United States (21%) and Australia (10%). 

This fund rose an astonishing 131% over the last 12 months. 

VanEck Australian Resources ETF (ASX: MVR)

This ASX ETF has been hotly covered in the past year as it captured the tailwinds in Australia's resources sector. 

As the name suggests, this fund offers exposure to 32 ASX-listed resources companies. 

According to VanEck, this includes companies focused on physical energy commodities (such as coal, oil, gas and uranium) related services and equipment (such as drilling, pipelines, storage and transportation), power generation and renewable energy. 

It also holds companies focused on mining and resources (such as iron ore, coal, precious metals and other minerals) and mining related services and equipment (such as drilling, explosives, transportation and producers of mining machinery).

This fund includes blue-chip companies like BHP Group (ASX: BHP), Fortescue Metals Group (ASX: FMG) and Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO). 

It allows investors to access these big fish in one trade. 

Over the past year, this fund has risen more than 35%. 

VanEck Vectors Small Companies Masters ETF (ASX: MVS)

Another emerging story in 2025 was the impressive performance of ASX small-cap stocks. 

This fund captured that performance for investors, rising more than 20% in the last year. 

The fund is made up of 58 small-cap companies across a wide range of sectors including healthcare, industrials, resources, technology, energy and more. 

The post 3 of the best performing VanEck ASX ETFs in the last year appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

For example, the gold price has jumped by about 70% since early January to reach a new record high on Monday.

This powerful rally has also helped some of the leading ASX 200 gold miners to deliver outsized returns for their shareholders.

Take Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) and Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN).

Shares in both companies are up by more than 160% so far this year.

But gold isn't the only metal breaking new ground.

Silver and copper pushed to record highs at the start of this week, whilst lithium has also posted strong gains in recent months.

Such favourable pricing environments help boost the earnings prospects of mining companies and drive strength across the sector.

And broadly speaking, mining stocks have enjoyed a powerful and wide-ranging rally in 2025.

The four exchange traded funds (ETFs) presented below help paint a picture of how strong this momentum has been.

In essence, each of the following mining-related ETFs just hit a new record high.

VanEck Australian Resources ETF (ASX: MVR)

This ETF offers exposure to a portfolio of ASX mining and energy stocks operating across a wide range of commodities.

Its largest holdings include diversified mining titan BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and iron ore giant Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG).

Today, shares in this ASX ETF reached their highest level since the fund's inception in 2013.

They have now risen by 37% since the start of the year, changing hands at $43.83 per share at the time of writing.

VanEck Gold Miners AUD ETF (ASX: GDX)

Founded in 2015, this ASX ETF provides exposure to the world's largest gold miners, mostly located outside Australia.

However, it holds positions in some renowned ASX 200 gold producers such as Newmont and Evolution.

Shares in this ETF hit an all-time peak in today's session, reaching as high as $138.63 per share.

They are now up by 150% since the start of the year.

Betashares Energy Transition Metals ETF (ASX: XMET)

This ETF offers exposure to a portfolio of global companies producing metals for the world's energy transition.

In a nutshell, the push to reduce carbon emissions has seen the mining industry tasked with delivering the critical metals for a cleaner world.

So, metals such as lithium, rare earths, silver, and copper are taking on an increasingly important role.

Today, shares in this ASX ETF also reached their highest level since the fund's inception in 2022.

They have now risen by 98% in 2025, climbing to $14.68 each at the time of writing.

Global X Copper Miners AUD ETF (ASX: WIRE)

This ASX ETF has been providing access to the world's leading copper miners since its founding in late 2022.

Copper boasts widespread industrial applications.

It is also becoming growingly significant in AI data centres, as well as electric vehicles and associated infrastructure.

Shares in this ETF also reached a new all-time high in today's session.

All up, they have now soared by 75% since the start of January.

The post From gold to copper and lithium: Mining stocks are on a tear and these 4 ASX ETFs tell the story appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Yesterday, the three largest ASX 200 mining shares and the biggest pure-play copper stock reached new 52-week highs.

Top ASX 200 mining shares rise to new highs

The BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) share price rose 3.8% to a 52-week peak of $44.60 yesterday, and is $44.63 at the time of writing.

The Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) share price lifted 1.15% to a 52-week high of $22.03, and is $21.78 on Friday.

The Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) share price increased 3.9% to a 52-week high of $140.58, and is currently $137.82.

Pure-play ASX 200 copper share, Sandfire Resources Ltd (ASX: SFR), rose 5.3% to a record $17.20, and is $16.68 today.

James Gerrish from Shaw and Partners said ASX mining shares have had a strong run and boosted many mining-focused ASX ETFs.

Gerrish and his Market Matters team think there's not too much more room to run, commenting:

The outperformance by the materials sector is starting to look and feel mature but there are no signs that it's time to dramatically restructure portfolios.

Yesterday's boost for the big ASX 200 iron ore shares followed a 2.9% lift in the iron ore price this week to US$107 per tonne, taking the YTD gains to 4.1%.

The Market Matters team can see iron ore grinding about 5% higher over the coming weeks and months.

Gerrish commented:

Most focus in commodities over the last few months has been on gold, silver, and copper, but iron ore has also broken out to new 2025 highs, albeit in a less dramatic fashion.

We are not fading this advance by the bulk commodity and related miners but we do believe the "easy money" is in the rear view mirror.

Turning to copper, Market Matters is bullish on the red metal over the medium and long term.

BHP and Rio Tinto have significantly increased their copper operations amid higher demand due to the green energy transition.

BHP is now the world's largest copper producer, and copper formed 45% of its total underlying EBITDA in FY25, up from 29% in FY24.

The copper price has risen 3.8% this week and 32.5% YTD to US$5.27 per pound on Friday.

Expert reveals 2 preferred ASX ETFs

Yesterday, Global X Copper Miners ETF (ASX: WIRE) rose to a record high of $20.62 per unit.

This is the Market Matters team's preferred copper play among ASX ETFs.

BHP and Sandfire Resources shares comprise about 8% of holdings, with Capstone Copper Corp CDI (ASX: CSC) providing another 3.3%.

Gerrish said:

The ASX-listed Global X Miners ETF (WIRE) remains one of our preferred vehicles for broad exposure to global copper producers.

From a regional perspective, it only has 11% exposure to Australia, with Canada providing the main holdings.

It has a decent $400mn market cap, while its fees are okay at 0.65%.

Market Matters is now targeting $22 to $24 for the WIRE ETF over the coming weeks and months.

We remain firm believers in the Cu story over the coming years but are conscious that the WIRE ETF has now reached our initial target area, but if Cu continues to accelerate higher the skies the proverbial limit i.e. surprises are still likely to be on the upside although the "easy" money does feel behind us.

Turning to gold, Market Matters expects the gold price to reach US$4,500 per ounce before it takes a breather.

This morning, gold is trading at US$4,207 per ounce, down 0.03%.

Market Matters is bullish towards gold in the short term. The team's forecast will strengthen if a US rate cut eventuates next week.

Next week's Fed decision will be important to a bullish thesis around gold in the coming months but with a cut feeling inevitable we see no reason to doubt our view at this stage.

The team likes the VanEck Gold Miners AUD ETF (ASX: GDX), which hit a record $105.92 per unit yesterday.

They expect this ASX ETF to test the $135 to $140 range over the coming months.

Gerrish said:

The ASX gold stocks are a refreshing and rare example of where local investors have enjoyed outperformance compared to their overseas peers with the GDX ETF tracking the gold price and remaining below its October high.

It has a large $1.4bn market cap, backed up by $US23.9bn in its US parent, around 11% of the ETF is in Australian names while its fees are a reasonable 0.53%.

The post Expert names 2 preferred ASX ETFs reaping the rewards of surging mining shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

And that was after a 27% rise in 2024, which at the time was gold's best annual performance since 2010.

The gold price reached an all-time high of US$4,381.58 per ounce in October after a phenomenal two-year run.

But can it go even further?

Experts seem to think so, with a Goldman Sachs poll revealing a high level of confidence among institutional investors.

Before we get into the poll results, let's recap what's happened to the gold price this year.

Why did the gold price rip in 2025?

Strong and continuing structural demand from central banks created an incredible tailwind for the gold price this year.

Goldman Sachs Research analyst, Lina Thomas, estimates that central banks have increased their gold purchases by about 5x since 2022.

The catalyst was Russia's foreign-currency reserves being frozen following its invasion of Ukraine.

This year, global concern about the reliability of the US dollar as the reserve currency has encouraged further hoarding of gold.

Meanwhile, investors have piled into ASX gold shares and gold ETFs, pushing their share and unit prices to new heights.

This year, the S&P/ASX All Ords Gold Index (ASX: XGD) has surged 107% versus a 5% bump for the S&P/ASX All Ords Index (ASX: XAO).

The biggest gold mining share, Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST), is up 75% to $27.11 per share.

The Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) share price has soared 143% to $11.75.

Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) shares are up 130% to $138.76.

Among the gold ETFs, Betashares Global Gold Miners Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: MNRS) has rocketed 136% to $14.70 per unit.

The VanEck Gold Miners AUD ETF (ASX: GDX) is up 127% to $125.79 per unit.

Insto investors confident gold can go further in 2026

Goldman Sachs conducted a poll of 900 institutional clients from 12 to 14 November.

The broker found almost 70% of investors expect the gold price to exceed US$4,500 per ounce by the end of next year.

More than one in three investors — or 36% — anticipate the gold price exceeding US$5,000 per ounce by this time next year.

About 22% of investors expect the gold price to finish 2026 somewhere between US$4,000 and $US4,500 per ounce.

Only a very small portion of insto investors were bearish on the gold price.

About 6% expect gold to fall to between US$3,500 and $US4,000 per ounce, and 3% predict it will go below US$3,500 per ounce.

The investors cited central bank buying (38%) and fiscal concerns (27%) as the likely primary drivers of the gold price next year.

Russel Chesler, VanEck's Head of Investments and Capital Markets, says there is always a place for gold in investment portfolios.

In an article, Chesler said:

Unlike other assets, gold is not tied to corporate earnings, interest rate policies or government fiscal decisions.

It moves to the beat of its own drum, providing valuable diversification.

Gold, we think, has an important role to play in portfolios.

The post 70% of institutional investors expect gold price to rise in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the gold price is US$4,148 per ounce, up 0.8% today and up 57% in the year to date.

Trading Economics analysts said the gold price hit a three-week high on expectations of another interest rate cut in the US.

The analysts said growing economic uncertainty in the US had increased the likelihood of a rate cut.

The US Government has been shut down for 40 days now.

Meantime, new data shows job losses in the US economy last month, particularly in government and retail sectors.

On top of that, US consumer sentiment has fallen to a three-and-a-half-year low.

The analysts commented:

Traders are pricing in about a 64% chance of a 25-basis-point Fed cut in December, with Fed Governor Stephen Miran advocating a larger half-point reduction amid falling inflation and rising unemployment.

Meantime, America's biggest bank, JPMorgan, now projects the gold price could surpass US$5,000 per ounce next year.

JPMorgan isn't alone in its optimistic predictions.

French bank Societe Generale SA also says the gold price will reach US$5,000 per ounce by the end of next year.

Goldman Sachs is tipping US$4,900 per ounce by the end of 2026.

ASX gold shares surge on Tuesday

The S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) is up 2.63% today, while the S&P/ASX All Ords Index (ASX: XAO) is down 0.09%.

The market's biggest ASX gold share, Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST), is trading 3.45% higher at $26.06.

The Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) share price is up 1.9% to $11.29.

Newmont Corporation CDI (ASX: NEM) shares are 4.29% higher at $136.47.

The Genesis Minerals Ltd (ASX: GMD) share price is $6.24, up 3.48% today.

Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) shares are $5.18, rising 3.1%.

Westgold Resources Ltd (ASX: WGX) shares are up 0.87% to $5.77.

Perth Mint Gold (ASX: PMGOLD) shares are up 2.27% to $63.15.

Among the ASX small-cap gold shares, Barton Gold Holdings Ltd (ASX: BGD) shares are up 7.14% to $1.20.

New Murchison Gold Ltd (ASX: NMG) shares are 6.1% higher at 3.5 cents apiece.

The Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd (ASX: KCN) share price is up 3.1% to $4.65.

The Golden Horse Minerals Ltd CDI (ASX: GHM) share price is up 4.9% to 75 cents.

Black Cat Syndicate Ltd (ASX: BC8) shares are up 5.39% to $1.08.

The Dateline Resources Ltd (ASX: DTR) share price is up 0.69% to 29 cents.

What about ASX gold ETFs?

Among the gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs), Betashares Global Gold Miners Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: MNRS) is up 4.1% to $13.59 per unit.

MNRS seeks to mirror the performance of the Nasdaq Global ex-Australia Gold Miners Hedged AUD Index and invests in 56 stocks.

The VanEck Gold Miners AUD ETF (ASX: GDX) is up 3.7% to $117.85 per unit.

The GDX ETF tracks the NYSE Arca Gold Miners Index (AUD) and invests in 63 stocks.

Global X Physical Gold ETF (ASX: GOLD) is up 2.35% to $58.26 per unit.

The GOLD ETF seeks to mirror the growth in the Australian dollar gold price.

The post Why are ASX gold shares and ETFs soaring today? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Gold last hit a record high back in mid-October, topping out at just over US$4,379 per ounce. Since then, the precious metal has been correcting, and sharply. At current pricing, gold is fetching approximately US$3,960 an ounce. That's down almost 10% from that all-time high.

That's still extremely lofty by historical standards, to be sure. Consider that the yellow metal was priced at US$2,740 this time last year, and US$2,640 at the start of 2025. That still means gold is up a whopping 50% this year to date.

But a dip is a dip, and there would be more than a few investors keen to take advantage of it, if the recent queues outside bullion dealerships are anything to go by.

While buying physical bullion in the form of bars or coins will always remain the preferred way of investing in gold for many, there are alternative options on the ASX that are arguably easier (and cheaper) to pursue for gold bugs.

Let's discuss two of those alternatives today.

2 ASX ETFs for buying the gold dip

Global X Physical Gold Structured ETF (ASX: GOLD)

First up, we have this physical gold fund from Global X. This ETF represents a direct alternative to buying the precious metal yourself. Each unit of this exchange-traded fund (ETF) represents a direct investment in the metal, which is stored in physical form in a London vault.

As such, the unit price of this ETF should rise and fall almost in tandem with the price of gold itself.

Of course, this doesn't come free; the Global X Physical Gold ETF charges an annual management fee of 0.4% per annum. That still might be fine with investors not wanting to pay the spreads on physical bullion, not to mention insurance or storage costs.

VanEck Gold Miners ETF (ASX: GDX)

Another gold ETF for investors who wish to buy the dip is this offering from VanEck. Instead of buying precious metals itself though, this fund focuses on the companies that own reserves of it under the ground, and extract, process, and sell it to the world. Gold miners, in other words. This ETF holds miners from all over the world, including our own Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM), as well as Barrick Mining Corp, Franco-Nevada Corp, and Wheaton Precious Metals.

The share prices of gold miners tend to offer 'leveraged' exposure to the price of gold. That means they often rise by more than the metal itself when demand is high, but also tend to drop by more when the mood turns.

As a case in point, the GDX unit price is up a whopping 91.75% in 2025 to date, but has tanked by about 19% since mid-October.

As such, this fund, although riskier, might be more appealing to long-term gold bulls.

The post 2 ASX ETFs to buy if you want to buy the gold dip appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

These include financials, healthcare, information technology, and the mining-heavy materials sector.

And in the past six months, the materials sector has been the standout performer on the ASX with a 28% jump.

For context, the broader market has also rallied handsomely with the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) rising by about 16% during the same period.

So, it appears that mining stocks have played a significant role in pushing the All Ords higher.

But there's more.

Diving into five ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs) presents a picture of just how powerful and wide-ranging the mining rally has been.

In essence, mining stocks have been skyrocketing and each of these mining-related ETFs has been breaking records.

VanEck Australian Resources ETF (ASX: MVR)

This ETF provides exposure to a diverse portfolio of ASX mining stocks operating across a wide array of commodities.

For example, its three largest holdings are diversified mining giant BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), leading gold producer Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST), and iron ore powerhouse Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG).

So, the fund offers a broad insight into leading mining stocks listed in Australia.

And last week, shares in this ASX ETF reached their highest level since the fund's inception in 2013.

They have now risen by about 34% in the past six months to $41.41 per share at Friday's close.

VanEck Gold Miners AUD ETF (ASX: GDX)

Precious metals have been surging throughout 2025.

For instance, the gold price has lifted by about 62% since the start of the year to more than US$4,200 per ounce, setting several records along the way.

And this VanEck gold miners ETF has been riding the wave.

Founded in 2015, it offers exposure to the world's largest gold miners – mostly outside of Australia.

However, it holds positions in some ASX stalwarts such as Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN).

Last week, shares in this ETF rocketed to all-time highs.

They are now up by 58% in the past six months, ending Friday at $131.44 per share.

Betashares Energy Transition Metals ETF (ASX: XMET)

In recent years, one of the most important narratives in mining has been the global energy transition.

Here, the world's push to reduce carbon emissions has seen the mining industry tasked with producing the critical metals needed for a cleaner world.

Metals such as lithium, rare earths, silver, and copper have come to the fore due to their role in new-age technologies like electric vehicles, solar panels, and wind turbines.

And this ETF provides exposure to a portfolio of global companies producing energy transition metals.

Last week, shares in this ASX ETF reached their highest level since the fund's inception in 2022.

They are now up by 86% in just six months, closing out Friday at $13.17 apiece.

Global X Copper Miners AUD ETF (ASX: WIRE)

Copper's widespread industrial applications make it a cornerstone of the global economy.

In addition, the metal's significance has been growing further due to its use in electric vehicles and associated infrastructure.

And this ASX ETF has been providing access to a basket of the world's leading copper miners since its founding in late 2022.

Shares in this fund also reached a record high during last week's trading.

They have now soared by 65% in the past six months to end of last week at $19.14 per share.

Betashares Global Uranium ETF (ASX: URNM)

Shares in this ASX ETF also broke records last week.

The fund provides exposure to the world's leading uranium mining, processing, and holding companies.

In essence, uranium is playing a critical role in the world's energy transition.

It is the fuel that powers nuclear power plants.

And nuclear energy is one of the cleanest sources of electricity due to its minimal carbon footprint.

Shares in this ASX ETF ended last week at $11.73 apiece, up by 96% in only six months.

As a sidenote, it warrants mentioning that uranium stocks on the ASX are technically classified in the energy sector, as opposed to materials.

The bottom line

There's little doubt that mining stocks have staged an impressive rally in recent months.

From gold and copper to rare earths, silver, uranium, and lithium; miners across the commodity spectrum have been surging higher.

But, it remains to be seen if this momentum can be sustained throughout the rest of the year and into 2026.

The post From gold to rare earths, mining stocks are booming and these 5 record-breaking ASX ETFs prove it appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The GDX ETF gives investors exposure to a diversified portfolio of ASX and international gold shares.

Take a look at its trajectory over the past 18 months compared to the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

This ASX ETF has been a far superior investment compared to ETFs tracking the ASX 200 Index.

Why is the gold price continuing to surge?

Gold continues to enjoy strong support as a safe-haven asset amid wars overseas and global trade uncertainty caused by US tariffs.

Central banks around the world, including in emerging markets, are highly motivated to buy gold, and this is fuelling the gold price.

Many countries want to diversify their reserves away from the US dollar, given the high US debt and global economic uncertainty.

Gold is in the midst of a stunning run, with the commodity's value rising by more than 40% in the 2025 calendar year to date.

In the 2024 calendar year, the gold price rose by 27%, which was — at the time — the commodity's best annual growth since 2010.

It looks like 2025 may deliver an even higher annual surge.

In fact, Michael Gable from Fairmont Equities reckons the gold price will run to US$4,000 per ounce this year.

Could the gold price really go to US$4,000 per ounce?

On The Bull this week, Gable said:

After initially peaking in April, the gold price traded sideways for a few months before experiencing resistance near $US3,450.

It recently broke above that resistance line, and I expect the gold price to test $US4,000 an ounce during 2025.

Gable said he had been bullish on gold for several years, and this remains the case.

He added:

Central banks are continuing to buy gold.

Investors are starting to allocate more of their capital to gold in response to fears of increasing US Government debt and general global uncertainty.

Will the US Fed cut rates tomorrow?

Another motivation for investors to buy gold is the expectation of the US Federal Reserve cutting interest rates.

The Fed is meeting today and will announce its next move on interest rates tomorrow.

Rate cuts tend to push the yields on cash and bonds down, increasing the relative appeal of gold as a store of value.

The yellow metal's strong gains over the past two years simply amplifies its appeal when bond and cash yields fall.

According to Reuters, global markets expect the Fed to cut rates by 0.25%. That would be the first cut since December 2024.

Peter Grant, vice president and senior metals strategist at Zaner Metals, said (courtesy Reuters):

Expectations of a 25-basis-point rate cut are largely baked into the cake at this point.

Grant said he thinks there could be one or two more interest rate cuts in the US by Christmas.

Should you buy this ASX ETF?

ASX gold ETFs provide a way to invest in the trend of rising gold without selecting individual stocks.

If only we'd listened to Gable back in April, when he recommended we buy GDX ETF at about $80 per unit.

In just five months, the ASX ETF has risen by 32%.

Today, Gable has a hold rating on the GDX ETF.

The GDX ETF invests in 62 stocks, with 44% in Canada, 18% in the US, 10% in Australia, and 7% in Brazil.

GDX was among the top 6 ASX international shares ETFs for best returns in FY25.

The post Gold price 'to test US$4,000' in 2025: Here's one ASX ETF to gain exposure appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

You might have exposure to some of the major blue-chip companies listed on the ASX. This could be a variety of the big banks, mining and materials stocks etc. 

You also know that a balanced portfolio includes stocks outside Australia. Based on this, you might have bought a fund that tracks the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX). 

This gives you exposure to sectors less common on the ASX like technology and healthcare, as well as big global companies like Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) and Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL). 

At this point, your portfolio is looking solid. 

Now you may be looking to add a small but concentrated investment in one specific sector. 

This is called thematic investing. Here are some growing themes you may be interested in targeting. 

Commodities 

Commodities are simply raw materials.

They can be precious metals like gold and silver or foodstuffs like corn and wheat and even energy resources like crude oil and natural gas.

This year, physical commodities like gold have far outpaced the returns of the ASX 200. The price of physical gold has risen more than 40%. 

This can be a strong investment for diversification because commodity prices can often move differently from share prices.

Gold has a long history of preserving its value, so investors flock to it when other financial markets get rocky. 

If you are interested in adding commodities like gold to your portfolio, some ASX ETFs to consider include: 

• Global X Physical Gold (ASX: GOLD)
• BetaShares Gold Bullion ETF – Currency Hedged (ASX: QAU)
• VanEck Gold Miners ETF (ASX: GDX)

Artificial Intelligence 

A growing theme that may interest investors is artificial intelligence.

According to Grand View Research, the global AI market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 38.1% from 2022 to 2030. 

AI stocks can be companies involved in chip making, software, or firms that utilise artificial intelligence in their applications.

Importantly, the ASX does not have as many AI focussed stocks as other markets. This can make AI ASX ETFs beneficial, as investors can gain exposure to innovative AI companies in the US, Asia and Europe. 

Some to consider for AI exposure include: 

• Global X AI Infrastructure ETF (ASX: AINF) 
• Global X Robo Global Robotics And Automation ETF (ASX: ROBO)
• Global X Artificial Intelligence ETF (ASX: GXAI)

ESG ASX ETFs

ESG stands for environmental, social, and governance. It is a growing theme amongst investors to target not only financial growth, but simultaneously have a positive global impact through their investment choices.

As the name suggests, this may involve targeting companies committed to contributing to climate targets, supporting human rights etc. It can also involve actively excluding companies that contribute to violence, war, alcohol/tobacco manufacturing or negatively impacting the environment. 

If this sounds like a strategy you would like to include in your investment portfolio, some ASX ETFs to consider include: 

• Betashares Australian Sustainability Leaders ETF (ASX: FAIR)
• Vanguard Ethically Conscious International Shares Index Etf (ASX: VESG)
• BetaShares Global Sustainability Leaders ETF (ASX: ETHI)
• Betashares Energy Transition Metals Etf (ASX: XMET)

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