Since the war began, ASX 200 shares have fallen 7.8%.

Most sectors, particularly mining, have been negatively impacted, while energy shares have soared due to higher oil, gas, and coal prices.

Earlier this week, we looked at the 5 most traded ASX 200 shares since the war began.

The trading data came from online investment platform Stake and covered the period from 2 March to 18 March.

Only one of the top 5 most traded shares was an energy company.

That alone was interesting, given energy shares are clearly the momentum trade of the moment, with the sector up 16% since 2 March.

The data also indicated another interesting and surprising trend — investors' desire to buy the dip.

Several of the most traded ASX 200 shares had experienced major annual declines, and the war had dragged them even lower.

Examples include CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), Wisetech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO), and Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) shares.

This is a trend we've seen before among Aussie investors.

Last year, Stake trading data showed Aussies bought the dip during the April 2025 rout after the US announced its reciprocal tariffs.

10 most traded ETFs since the war began

In this article, we take a look at the 10 most traded ASX exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on the Stake platform since the war began.

This data is highly relevant given that so many Aussie investors are choosing ETFs over individual shares in today's market.

According to the latest market data, Aussies have a record $333 billion invested across 426 ETFs on the market today.

Here is the data from Stake. Remember, this data only shows volume of activity, so we don't know the split between purchases and sales.

However, we can assume that the fifth-ranked Betashares Crude Oil Index Currency Hedged Complex ETF (ASX: OOO) is buy-tilted.

ASX OOO has surged 47% in 30 days, and provides exposure to US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures (not the spot price).

We can also assume some profit-taking with ASX gold and silver ETFs, given the drop in gold and silver prices this month.

The gold price has fallen 18%, and silver has dropped 24% since the war in Iran began.

However, gold and silver remain 42% and 98% higher, respectively, over 12 months.

Source: Stake

The post Which ASX ETFs have Aussies traded most since the Iran war began? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The index was largely affected by selling pressure among investors offloading their gold mining stocks. This was after the metal price slumped from its peak.

New data from CommSec reveals the Australian shares that were most traded by its clients last week, highlighting investor sentiment and market momentum.

Most traded Australian shares in the last week of January

CommSec's data shows that Droneshield Ltd (ASX: DRO) continues to be a firm favourite among its clients. The drone operator's shares were the most traded Australian stock between the 26th and 30th of January.

Droneshield shares have gathered a lot of attention recently. The company is making great progress, and its share price continues to recover following the price crash late last year.

The shares are now just 43.4% below their all-time high of $6.60 seen in October. Over the course of last week, 58% of Droneshield activity was investors buying, but 42% was investors selling up and taking some recent gains.

At the time of writing, Droneshield shares are up 8.41% for the day to $3.74 a piece. For the year to date, the shares are up 12.16%. Analysts widely rate the shares as a buy following the company's strong quarterly update last week. 

Next on CommSec's most traded Australian shares list are Global X Metal Securities Australia Ltd (ASX: ETPMAG) and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP). 

The data shows that 69% of trades in the silver exchange-traded fund ETPMAG were purchases, after surging silver prices were thrust into the spotlight last week. Meanwhile, 65% of trades in the mining giant BHP were sales after the miner took the top spot as the largest stock on the ASX.

What else were investors interested in last week?

CommSec clients were also interested in Global X Physical Gold Structured (ASX: GOLD), 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX), PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS), WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC), and Perth Mint Gold Structured Product (ASX: PMGOLD). Most activity for each of these shares was buying.

Appen Ltd (ASX: APX) shares also made the top 10 most traded shares list during the week, but the majority of activity (41%) was investor selling.

The post These were the 10 most traded Australian shares last week 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.

Many of the factors that have pushed gold higher over the past few years arguably remain in place today. Economic uncertainty remains a constant in the global economy, exemplified this week by the storm of tariff threats and trade sanctions being thrown around in response to US President Donald Trump's aspiration to acquire Greenland. Government debt across major economies of the world continues to climb. Central banks continue to snap up gold at record rates. And geopolitical tensions remain high across several global hotspots.

As such, many ASX investors may wish to add gold (or more gold) to their portfolios in 2026, despite the record-high prices. Of course, physical gold bullion in bar or coin form will continue to be the preference of many investors seeking to buy gold. However, many others might prefer the ease of investing in gold ETFs over holding physical metal.

There are many gold ETFs on the ASX that these investors can choose from. So, which is the best? Let's look at some options.

Which ASX gold ETF is the best to buy in 2026?

For starters, there's Perth Mint Gold (ASX: PMGOLD). This ETF is managed by the Perth Mint. Its units represent ownership of physical metal held in the Perth Mint vault, and are subject to a government guarantee from Western Australia. They can even be converted to gold bullion if investors wish. As with all of the ETFs we'll discuss today, this tie to gold means that PMGOLD units should rise and fall in value alongside the price of gold itself.

Perth Mint Gold charges a management fee of 0.15% per annum.

There's also the Global X Physical Gold ETF (ASX: GOLD) to consider. This gold ETF works similarly to Perth Mint Gold, with each unit representing entitlement to a physical store of precious metal. In this case, that bullion is held in a vault in London. The Global X Physical Gold ETF charges a fee of 0.4% per annum.

Another gold ETF in this vein is the VanEck Gold Bullion ETF (ASX: NUGG). NUGG units are tied to physical gold held in an Australian vault. Like PMGOLD, the units can be exchanged for bullion at investors' convenience. This ETF asks an annual management fee of 0.25%.

To hedge or not to hedge?

All of the funds we've discussed offer gold exposure to Australian investors in US dollar terms. The units are unhedged to Australian dollars, meaning that fluctuations in our exchange rate can influence the pricing of these ETFs, even if the underlying price of gold in US dollars doesn't change.

However, the BetaShares Gold Bullion Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: QAU) is different. It still holds bullion in a London vault, and its units are tied to the value of that bullion. But this ETF also uses currency hedging to mitigate any movements in the Australian dollar, effectively offering a pure exposure to gold in US dollar terms.

This doesn't come free, though, and QAU charges a management fee of 0.59% per annum for its services.

It's a similar story with the Global X Gold Bullion (Currency Hedged) ETF (ASX: GHLD). This ETF works almost identically to GOLD, but also adds a hedging mechanism. It asks 0.35% per annum in management fees.

Foolish Takeaway

As you can see, there are many gold ETFs on the ASX for precious metal enthusiasts to choose from. Which is the best choice comes down to individual preference. If you like the idea of an Australian holding, PMGOLD or NUGG might be your preferred option. PMGOLD also offers the lowest fees on this list, and has significantly more assets under management than NUGG.

If you wish to employ currency hedging, then QAU or GHLD are your only choices. Given the differences in fees there, I would personally be more inclined to give GHLD a look.

The post With gold up 71%, which is the best ASX gold ETF to buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This has continued into 2026, with gold now getting pretty close to US$4,700 an ounce. That same ounce was going for just over US$2,700 12 months ago, meaning gold has risen by more than 70% since early 2025. As such, we can see how lucrative investing in the yellow metal has been for investors lately.

The underlying fundamentals that have likely pushed gold up so high arguably remain in place. Major economies around the world, most particularly the United States and Japan, are still heavily indebted, with no signs of a turnaround. Geopolitical tensions remain elevated. And central banks continue to purchase gold at historically high rates.

With these factors in play, many Australian investors might wish to buy gold (or more of it) in 2026. If that's you, here are three ways you can do so.

How to buy gold in 2026

Bullion remains the gold standard

For many precious metal investors, there is no alternative to buying raw gold bullion, in either bar or coin form. This is the only way an individual can truly own gold. Whilst owning the yellow metal outright has a certain appeal, it is also costly. You will be paying a decent spread on bullion purchases from a dealer. Additionally, the costs of transporting, insuring and storing gold can be burdensome.

This is why many investors prefer easier options.

Buy gold ETFs

One of those options is buying a gold exchange-traded fund (ETF). Gold ETFs work by pooling investors' money together and purchasing gold bullion on their behalf. This bullion is usually stored in a bank vault, with each unit of the ETF representing a specific amount of gold. The price of the gold ETF should rise and fall alongside the price of gold over time. Some ASX examples of gold ETFs include Perth Mint Gold (ASX: PMGOLD), the Global X Physical Gold Structured ETF (ASX: GOLD) and the VanEck Gold Bullion ETF (ASX: NUGG).

Many investors like this approach to buying gold as it removes many of the costs and inconveniences of owning the physical metal. The downside is that you don't actually possess the gold you are buying, and have an indirect ownership stake in the metal.

Mining stocks

Finally, ASX investors can consider buying gold mining companies. There are many gold miners on the ASX. Some of the largest names are Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM), Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST), Perseus Mining Ltd (ASX: PRU) and Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN).

These miners own vast tracts of gold and extract and sell the metal for a profit. Gold miners often outperform the gold price in a bull market, as they disproportionately benefit from increasing prices, thanks to their relatively fixed costs. That's why owning gold miners is the preferred choice for a gold investment for many professionals.

There are outsized risks involved with this approach, too, though. For one, buying shares of a gold miner is not a direct investment on gold itself. A miner's fortunes can be influenced by factors outside the process of gold itself. That could be anything from bad weather to incompetent corporate management.

For another, again, you do not own gold directly if you buy shares of a gold miner. This may make owning shares of one unappealing for the enthusiastic gold bug.

The post Want to buy gold in 2026? Here are 3 ways to do it 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.

That's a gain worth 48.15%, well above what any stock market, or most other assets for that matter, have returned.

Given this incredible runup, many ASX investors might be wondering how they can get in on the action. There's always the option of buying physical bullion if one wants to buy gold, of course. However, many investors don't want to worry about the hassle of buying and storing heavy gold bars or coins.

Luckily for those investors, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) provide a compelling alternative. Gold ETFs work by holding a store of the precious metal, usually in a bank vault somewhere, and offering investors a chance to indirectly invest in that gold stockpile by buying units of the ETF.

The price of these units should move in tandem with the price of gold, allowing investors to obtain a return if the gold price continues to rise. There is no need to own physical metal itself with this strategy, although this does come with the drawback of having to pay the ETF provider an annual fee.

Let's talk about a few ASX ETFs that might suit an investor wishing to buy gold today.

Buy gold with these ASX ETFs

The simplest funds that offer exposure to the gold price include the Global X Physical Gold Structured ETF (ASX: GOLD) and the Perth Mint Gold ETF (ASX: PMGOLD). Both of these ETFs work in the manner described above. The Global X fund holds its gold store in a London vault, while Perth Mint Gold's stores are held locally in Perth.

Critically, both funds offer investors who wish to buy gold unhedged exposure to the precious metal. This means that the units will reflect the price of gold in Australian dollar terms rather than US dollars.

This can be beneficial if the price of gold rises in US dollar terms whilst the value of our dollar falls. However, it can work against investors if our dollar gains strength relative to the greenback.

The Global X Gold ETF charges a management fee of 0.4% per annum, while Perth Mint Gold asks a far cheaper 0.15% per annum.

For investors who wish to take that currency factor out of the equation, there are also ETFs that offer hedged exposure available. These will give investors a 'purer' exposure to gold, meaning that movements in our dollar won't affect the value of the ETF, only the price movements of gold itself.

Investors have a few options to consider if this is the path they wish to take. Two examples are the BetaShares Gold Bullion Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: QAU) and the Global X Gold Bullion (Currency Hedged) ETF (ASX: GHLD).

Bear in mind that hedged ETFs can often be more expensive to own than their unhedged counterparts. To illustrate, GHLD units will set investors back 0.35% per annum, while QAU will cost 0.59% per annum.

The post Want to buy gold? Try these ASX ETFs appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Diversification can be a double-edged sword. All investors acknowledge the importance of hedging risks associated with single companies, markets, and currencies. After all, none of us knows what the future might have in store for us. However, ASX investors can also be in danger of 'over-diversifying', which can lead to sub-optimal returns.

Saying that, there are investors out there who prioritise capital protection over maximising their returns. For those investors, let's discuss how you can build the ultimately diversified $100,000 portfolio using only ASX ETFs today.

Building a $100,000 ASX ETF portfolio for ultimate diversification

Getting to the ultimate level of diversification, we will need to spread out our portfolio across multiple asset classes, not just stocks.

However, in recognising the need to balance a portfolio between capital protection and meaningful returns, we will still be allocating 70% of our portfolio to stocks. For investors who are uncomfortable with this level of risk, you can always decrease that. Today, though, we'll use that as a benchmark.

Kicking things off, we'll allocate $20,000 to the Vanguard Australian Shares Index ETF (ASX: VAS). This index fund tracks the largest 300 shares on our market. That's everything from the big four banks and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) to Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN) and Coles Group Ltd (ASX: COL).

ASX shares have historically delivered compelling returns. Plus, you'll get some additional benefits from the franking credits that VAS provides.

Next, we'll supplement VAS with an additional $20,000 allocated to the iShares S&P 500 ETF (ASX: IVV). This index fund tracks the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX), which, similarly to VAS, tracks the largest 500 shares listed on the US markets. The American stock market houses some of the world's best companies.

I think it would be negligent to ignore stocks of the calibre of Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Netflix, Mastercard, Coca-Cola, and other world-dominating businesses that call the United States home. Exposure to the US dollar, although currently unfashionable, is also still prudent.

ASX ETFs for EAFE and emerging markets

We'll give a further $15,000 each to both the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (ASX: IVE) and the Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets Shares ETF (ASX: VGE).

These two ASX ETFs give us even more diversification by adding exposure to stocks listed in Europe, Asia, and emerging markets.

The iShares EAFE ETF tracks markets across Europe, Asia, and the Far East (EAFE). Most of its portfolio comes from Japan, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. Its top holdings include ASML Holdings, Nestle, Shell, and Toyota.

Meanwhile, the Vanguard Emerging Markets ETF holds stocks from emerging markets, including China, India, Taiwan, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa.

Both of these ETFs hold companies that aren't too prominent in most major ASX ETFs. As such, they add a healthy level of geographic and currency diversification to our portfolio.

So that's the 70%. What about the other 30%?

Bonds and precious metals

If you want true diversification for capital protection, you should look beyond stocks as an investment. So, for our last two ASX ETFs, we'll be adding exposure to bonds and gold.

These asset classes have traditionally offered returns uncorrelated with share markets. As such, they can be useful in a portfolio during stock market crashes and other disruptive events in global markets.

For bonds, we'll be allocating $15,000 to the Vanguard Global Aggregate Bond Index ETF (ASX: VBND). This fund holds bonds issued by a variety of governments around the world, as well as by some investment-grade corporations.

It offers exposure to everything from US Treasuries to British Gilts and bonds issued by McDonald's, Coca-Cola, and even the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA). Investors will probably appreciate the reliable income that a fund like this can provide.

Finally, we'll be putting our final $15,000 into the Perth Mint Gold Structured Product (ASX: PMGOLD). This exchange-traded vehicle allows investors to buy units that have a direct correlation with the price of gold in Australian dollars. Gold has always been used as a safe haven for investors, providing protection against inflation, currency erosion, and global geopolitical and economic uncertainty. Investors are also attracted to its finite supply and inherent value.

Gold pays no yield. Even so, it has been one of the best-performing asset classes in recent years, thanks to ongoing global uncertainty. If you want to achieve the ultimate level of diversification, it makes sense to have at least some exposure to precious metals like gold in one's portfolio.

The post Here's how I would build a $100,000 ETF portfolio for ultimate ASX diversification today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

In early afternoon trade, the ASX 200 is down 0.3%, with the Aussie market following the lead of US markets lower.

The S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) closed down 1.0% on Friday, and the Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) slid 1.4% as a resilient US economy spurs fears that the US Federal Reserve may hold fire on further interest rate cuts over the coming months.

Returning to today's trading in Australia, here are five ASX 200 stocks (in order of their market cap) that are hitting fresh highs.

ASX 200 stocks notching new one-year-plus highs

The first company hitting not just a new 52-week high but setting a fresh all-time high today is Computershare Ltd (ASX: CPU).

The ASX 200 stock is up 1.5% on no fresh news at $35.74 a share. That sees shares in the financial administration company up 42% in 12 months.

The second large-cap Aussie company notching new highs today is Perth Mint Gold (ASX: PMGOLD).

Shares in the exchange-traded fund (ETF), which invests in physically vaulted gold bullion, are up 0.4% today at $45.67. That brings the Perth Mint Gold share price up 46.3% in a year and also to new record highs.

The ETF has been benefiting from the soaring gold price. The yellow metal is up 41.7% (in US dollars) and currently trades for US$2,869.23 per ounce.

Which brings us to the third ASX 200 stock hitting new highs today, Ansell Ltd (ASX: ANN). Shares in the health and safety products company are up 6.4% on Monday to $37.16.

This sees the Ansell share price up 54.6% in a year and trading at the highest level since August 2021.

Investors reacted positively today to Ansell's half-year financial results. Highlights included a 12.5% year on year increase in sales on an organic constant currency-basis to $1.02 billion. And earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) leapt 20.9% to $127 million.

New highs for financial shares

Moving on to the fourth ASX 200 stock shrugging off the market retrace today to set new highs, we have Insignia Financial Ltd (ASX: IFL).

Shares in the financial services company are up 0.2% today at $4.64. That small gain is enough to see Insignia Financial shares up 109.2% in a year and trading at their highest level since September 2021.

Insignia Financial has been benefiting from an ongoing bidding war from three different suitors to acquire all of its shares. All three interested parties are offering $4.60 cash per share.

Rounding off the list of ASX 200 stocks hitting new highs is Helia Group Ltd (ASX: HLI).

Shares in the lenders mortgage insurance provider are up 0.4% at $4.97 on no fresh news. That's the highest level we've seen since February 2015.

The post 5 ASX 200 stocks leaping to 52+-week highs in Monday's sinking market appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Yet that's exactly what this session has brought us.

However, the two lucky ASX ETFs in question are not index funds that cover ASX stocks. Or even international shares. They are gold exchange-traded funds.

Although ETFs are best known for the easy access they provide to entire stock market indexes like the ASX 200, they are also a popular vehicle for investing in alternative assets. There are ETFs out there that cover government bonds, cash, real estate, and commodities like crude oil, silver, and gold.

In the latter case, this provides a convenient alternative for those investors who might wish to invest in gold bullion but don't want the hassle of keeping heavy gold bars locked up in a safe at home.

The two ASX ETFs that hit all-time highs today are the Global X Physical Gold ETF (ASX: GOLD) and Perth Mint Gold (ASX: PMGOLD).

In GOLD's case, this ETF closed 0.92% higher at $42.70 a unit today. That's after hitting a new record high of $39.53 this morning.

With PMGOLD, this fund was up 0.92% to $42.70 per unit at the close after hitting a new all-time high of $42.75 earlier in the trading day.

Why are these ASX gold ETFs at record highs today?

We don't have to look too far to see why these two ASX ETFs have bucked the market and pushed higher this Thursday. PMGOLD and GOLD are directly tied to the price of gold. Both funds represent an underlying investment in physically vaulted gold bullion.

As it happens, gold has had a runup in price over the past day or two. This morning, my Fool colleague James reported that the gold futures price was up 0.4% to US$2,675.6 an ounce following the release of weaker-than-expected jobs data in the United States.

Now, that's not enough to mint a new all-time high for gold. However, given that our two ASX gold ETFs are priced in Australian dollars, the picture is a little different. At the current (approximate) price of $4,297 an ounce in our local dollar, gold is pretty much as expensive as it has ever been for Australian investors.

As such, it's not too shocking to see this reality reflected in the prices of the Perth Mint Gold and Global X Physical Gold ETFs today.

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The most popular metal for investors – gold – rose from US$2,066 an ounce at the start of the year to US$2,612 an ounce by the end, a gain worth 26.4%. That was after hitting a new record high of just over US$2,788 an ounce in October to boot.

Silver fared a little worse, but was still a very lucrative investment last year. Silver began 2024 at US$23.96 an ounce, but finished the year at US$29.10. That's a rise worth 21.45%.

It's hard to put a finger on exactly why gold and silver had such an outstanding year last year. But economic concerns, as well as heightened geopolitical tensions on the world stage, probably played a major role.

Even though gold and silver are entering 2025 at these highs, many ASX investors might still want to keep investing in these precious metals. ASX ETFs provide an easy and relatively inexpensive path to doing so. But which gold and silver ETFs should investors go for?

That's what we'll be covering today.

Buying gold and silver using ASX ETFs

We'll start with silver. Unlike gold, ASX investors only have one local option to consider if they wish to buy a pure silver ETF. That would be the Global X Physical Silver ETF (ASX: ETPMAG).

This ASX ETF is backed by physical silver bullion that is held in a London bank vault by Global X on behalf of ETPMAG investors. In effect, buying units of this ETF represents buying a share of this bullion hoard. As such, if you wish to invest in silver, but don't want to buy and store physical bars and coins yourself, this ASX ETF is a good alternative.

It doesn't come free through. The Global X Physical Silver ETF charges a management fee of 0.49% per annum.

Things aren't so straightforward when it comes to gold, though. The ASX is home to many gold ETFs. Some popular examples include the currency-hedged BetaShares Gold Bullion ETF (ASX: QAU) and the Global X Physical Gold ETF (ASX: GOLD).

However, the best options are arguably Perth Mint Gold (ASX: PMGOLD) and the Global X Gold Bullion ETF (ASX: GXLD).

Similarly to ETPMAG, both of these funds represent indirect ownership of physical gold bullion stored in a vault. As such, investors can expect their investments in these ASX ETFs to rise and fall on the back of the movements of the gold price (in Australian dollars) itself.

Both of these funds charge a management fee of 0.15% per annum, making it hard to argue the case for one over the other. But it is the Perth Mint's 'government guarantee' that gives it the edge, in my opinion.

However, either one would be an effective and relatively inexpensive way of investing in gold without taking charge of coins and bars yourself.

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In fact, we have seen no fewer than seven ETFs climb to new records today.

Here they are:

*at the time of writing

Why are these ASX ETFs at new highs today?

You might find it strange that these ETFs are printing new records today in a session that has seen the ASX fall. Well, there's a simple explanation for this phenomenon. These ETFs fall into one of two categories. They are either funds that cover international (primarily American) markets, or they are gold ETFs.

The first five ETFs in the table above fall into the former category. Three of these ETFs – IVV, NDQ and VTS – are US-based index funds. IVV covers the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX). NDQ tracks the NASDAQ-100 Index (NASDAQ: NDX). And VTS represents the CRSP US Total Market Index.

All of these indexes represent a slice of the American stock markets. Although their underlying indexes differ, all three share the same largest holdings, namely the 'Magnificent Seven' tech stocks that we all know (and may or may not love). Those are technology giants Amazon, Microsoft, Meta Platforms,  Apple, Tesla, NVIDIA and Alphabet.

As it happens, most of these shares had a great morning of trading while most of us slept, with many approaching their own record highs. As such, it's no surprise to see the index funds that hold these stocks also perform well today.

We can tell a similar story for VGS and IOO. Although these ETFs hold stocks from many different markets, they are also dominated by American shares, including the Magnificent Seven, and thus would be benefitting from these same tailwinds.

Gold glitters on the ASX

Our final two funds are gold ETFs. Both GOLD and PMGOLD are pure-play gold funds, meaning that they are relatively simple instruments that respond to the underlying gold price.

As we covered this morning, gold hit a new all-time high last night, with futures contracts now pricing the precious metal at US$2,784.90 an ounce.

So again, it's not too surprising to see the ASX's gold ETFs follow suit this Wednesday.

The post 7 hugely popular ASX ETFs smashing new record highs on Wednesday appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

There are a few ASX gold ETFs on our market, and most have delivered stunning gains over the past year or so, reflecting the optimism in the precious metal markets.

Take the Global X Physical Gold ETF (ASX: GOLD), a popular ASX gold ETF. At the start of 2024, GOLD units were going for $27.96. Today, those same units are trading at $35.52 each, a rise of 27%.

The Perth Mint Gold ETF (ASX: PMGOLD) has fared similarly. PMGOLD units were asking $30.20 in early January but are trading for $38.28 each today, a rise of 27%.

The BetaShares Gold Bullion ETF (ASX: QAU), which, unlike the previous two funds, is hedged against currency movements, has been slightly less successful. QAU units are up 25% this year, going from $17.37 each to today's $21.72.

Another ASX gold ETF worth mentioning is the VanEck Gold Miners ETF (ASX: GDX). Unlike the other ETFs here, GDX doesn't track the bullion price of gold. Instead, it invests in a basket of global gold mining stocks.

Owners of this investment have enjoyed a 27% gain over 2024 so far.

So we've established that gold, and by extension, ASX gold investments, have had a great year to date. It doesn't hurt when the price of gold itself has risen from approximately US$2,066 per ounce to this week's new record high of US$2,635.

But many ASX investors don't own gold right now. As such, they are probably wondering whether they should. After all, gains like these are difficult to watch from outside the tent.

Should investors buy ASX gold ETFs at record prices?

Tom Stevenson, investment director at fund manager Fidelity, put forward some ideas on this question in a recent publication.

Steveson wastes no time in pointing out that gold has had an extraordinary few years. He noted the following:

one of the best performing assets over the past two years has been neither an equity index nor fixed income… Even without the benefit of an income stream (the main driver of total returns from most investments), gold has given investors a 54 per cent profit since September 2022.

The director argues that gold's rise can be put down to a few factors. These include supply and demand – there have been more buyers (mainly central banks) than sellers. That's in addition to what's happened globally with inflation and interest rates, investor trust in gold assets, and gold old investor momentum.

Despite describing himself as a current gold investor, Stevenson notes that he is still "a sceptical bull" of gold (and gold ETFs, by extension) at current prices. He even goes as far as stating that "if someone were to ask me today whether they should too, I would struggle to answer them".

Why the hesitation? Stevenson points to gold's track record:

Gold is a volatile asset and can require extreme patience at times. If you had bought an ounce of the precious metal in September 2011 at the height of Europe's sovereign debt crisis, you would have paid around US$1800.

You would have had to wait until mid-2020, when there was still no end in sight to the Covid pandemic, before that investment was, briefly, back above water. Two years ago, you would still have been in negative territory. Gold does nothing for years, and then suddenly it takes off.

However, he also states that "If you are prepared to hold for the long term, gold can be a great store of value".

There is something here for everyone, it seems. At the end of the day, it will probably come down to each investor's personal beliefs and proclivity for gold's nature as an investment.

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But should investors still be buying ASX gold ETFs in May of 2024? That's what we'll be discussing today.

As we've just touched on, this year has been an extraordinary one for gold. The precious metal began the year at US$2,077 per ounce but has climbed up to roughly US$2,360 today. That comes after gold hit a new all-time high of around US$2,415 an ounce just last month.

Remember, it was only as recently as late 2018 that gold was asking under US$1,200 for that same ounce. 2022 also saw gold retreat to roughly US$1,600.

So the gold market is unequivocally enjoying a boom.

This, of course, has meant that gold-backed investments like gold miners and precious metal ETFs have also been rising in value.

To illustrate, the VanEck Gold Bullion ETF (ASX: NUGG) – a popular ASX vehicle for gold investment – has soared by almost 25% in value since October.

Other similarly structured ETFs, including the Global X Physical Gold ETF (ASX: GOLD) and the Perth Mint Gold ETF (ASX: PMGOLD), have performed commensurately.

But is there still steam left in this gold rush? Or is it too late to hop on the gold bandwagon?

Should investors still consider gold ETFs in May 2024?

Well, one commentator still preaches that gold is an asset class that investors ignore at their peril. ETF provider Global X (operator of the GOLD ETF listed above) is arguing that gold's returns over the past ten years, together with its inverse correlation to other assets like shares, make it a great choice as part of a diversified portfolio.

In a discursive piece, Global X found that gold returned an average of 9% per annum over the ten years to April 2024, underperforming the US markets but outperforming ASX shares.

Over an even longer period of time, the report found that gold was advantageous to hold:

Adding gold has increased the annual returns of Australian portfolios for a given amount of risk for most levels of risk and return over the past 20 year…

Gold has had these effects because the gold price is uncorrelated with Australian risk assets (shares, property). Furthermore, and crucially, gold maintains these low correlations while performing relatively strongly over the longer-term. In sum: gold provides diversification that works.

The report also argues that one of gold's main advantages for investors is the inverse correlation to other asset classes. This results in gold performing an 'insurance' role in a diversified portfolio:

In asset allocation, gold's role is diversification. This makes it different from property, shares, and bonds – which provide income, capital growth and capital stability, respectively….

Insurance is the ultimate form of diversification. When the value of one's car or house – or whatever else is insured – falls or disappears entirely, an insurance policy can pay out…

While not the same, gold's role in asset allocation can be understood in similar terms. Gold tends to perform well when other assets struggle, thereby limiting losses. It does this due to its tendency to perform well during crises and its low correlations with other assets.

It should be noted that Global X isn't exactly unbiased here, even though it runs one of the ASX's most popular gold-backed ETFs. However, the report makes for some compelling reading for anyone interested in gold as an investment.

The post Should you buy ASX gold ETFs right now? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Investors who want exposure to gold love the ETF structure as it negates many of the negative aspects of traditional gold investing. Gold bullion, whether it be in coin or bar form, requires its owners to take delivery, transport, store and in many cases insure, one of the heaviest metals on the planet. This can be a costly exercise. And since gold pays no yield, these costs can significantly weigh (no pun intended) on the benefits of owning gold in its physical form.

In contrast, gold ETFs allow investors to have a financial stake in the yellow metal without ever having to see, or hold, their investment. This comes at a cost of course, with all gold ETFs charging management fees for their services. But even so, many investors appreciate the simplicity of taking this path towards gold ownership.

So today, let's discuss three ASX gold ETFs that are available on the Australian stock market.

3 ASX gold funds that anyone can invest in

Global X Physical Gold ETF (ASX: GOLD)

This ETF, formerly known as the ETFS Physical Gold ETF, is the largest of its type on the ASX, with almost $3 billion in funds under management (as of 28 March).

When investors buy units of this ETF, those units are allocated to physical gold bullion holdings. These are stored in a bank vault in London on behalf of the fund. Investors can even exchange their units for the physical metal if they wish (for a fee).

Speaking of fees, this ETF charges a management fee of 0.4% per annum. That's $4 every year for every $1,000 invested.

Perth Mint Gold (ASX: PMGOLD)

This offering is a rather unique one, as it is provided by the Perth Mint. The Perth Mint is, in turn, fully owned by the State of Western Australia, which provides a government guarantee over its gold and associated investments and products.

This ETF works similarly to the one we just discussed. Every investment is allocated a physical gold backing with Perth Mint Bullion, with the units interchangeable for the precious metal.

PMGOLD has $828 million in assets under management and charges a management fee of 0.15% per annum.

BetaShares Gold Bullion ETF – Currency Hedged (ASX: QAU)

Our final gold ETF is one offered by provider BetaShares. This ETF works similarly to the other two on this list – with one major exception. QAU also utilises a physical store of gold bullion to back its fund. But in addition, it uses currency hedging instruments to shield ASX investors from movements in our local currency.

Gold is always priced in US dollars on the international market. That means that the cost of gold for Australian investors always has to be converted from its cost in US dollars first before it is quoted. This means that movements in our currency's value against the greenback have just as much influence on the price of gold as the changes in the value of the yellow metal itself.

As such, currency fluctuations affect the value of both PMGOLD and GOLD units. But the BetaShares Gold Bullion ETF takes this factor out of the equation. This means that the value of its units theoretically won't change with normal currency fluctuations, only on the price of gold.

Some investors might appreciate this added feature of this ASX gold ETF.

QAU charges a management fee of 0.59% per annum and currently has $564.7 million in assets under management.

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In Australian dollar terms, these gains have been even more pronounced, thanks to simultaneous weakness in our dollar compared to the US dollar. Gold started the year at $3,038 an ounce in our local currency, but the new highs of this month were worth $3,764 in Aussie dollars. That's a rise for Australian gold investors of 23.9%.

This doesn't just benefit those gold bugs that own physical gold bullion bars or coins. There are many ways to buy gold as an investment, including on the ASX. And most don't involve taking physical ownership of gold bars.

Gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are the most obvious example of this. These ETFs have been surging in popularity in recent years. Some prominent products include the Perth Mint Gold ETF (ASX: PMGOLD), the Global X Physical Gold ETF (ASX: GOLD), the VanEck Gold Bullion ETF (ASX: NUGG) and the BetaShares Gold Bullion – Currency Hedged ETF (ASX: QAU).

ASX investors can also utilise gold mining stocks or gold mining ETFs for a higher-risk, higher-reward exposure to the price of gold.

Some of the ASX's most popular gold stocks include Newmont Corporation (ASX: NEM), Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) and Gold Road Resources Ltd (ASX: GOR).

Meanwhile, the VanEck Gold Miners ETF (ASX: GDX) provides a way for investors to access a portfolio of gold miners from around the world.

Is it too late to buy gold in 2024?

Given gold's astronomical rise in 2024, many investors who have previously not owned any previous metal investments might be wondering if it's too late to hop on this bandwagon.

Unfortunately for those investors, I would argue that it is.

Sure, gold has come off the boil this week, as global geopolitical tensions have somewhat subsided. But even though the yellow metal has dropped from over US$2,400 an ounce to around US$2,360 today, it is still at a very high level historically. A month ago, today's price would have been a new record high, after all.

As I argued earlier this month, gold is an inherently cyclical commodity. It has tended to rise in value over long periods of time. But each new record high in the past has been followed by a pricing slump. In many cases, this slump has lasted for years. As I pointed out, 2011 saw gold at a new record high at the time, but by 2015, the precious metal had nearly halved in value from that high watermark.

Those who bought at the 2011 peak would have spent the best part of the subsequent decade underwater.

Foolish takeaway

As such, I think buying gold today close to its latest all-time high would be a mistake, whether that be bullion or a gold miner or ETF.

Sure, the metal might climb further from here. No one knows for sure. But I think it's more likely that it will follow its usual trajectory and stabilise or even drop in value over the coming months and years.

I think investors should take to mind Warren Buffett's advice on being fearful when others are greedy in this situation. As is the case with other investments like ASX shares, the best time to buy gold tends to be when no one else wants to. Not when everyone is fighting over themselves to buy at a historically high price.

The post Is it too late to buy gold as an investment in 2024? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

As my Fool colleague discussed this week, gold rose from US$1,823 an ounce in early October to a new all-time high of US$2,365 an ounce just this Thursday. Humans have been putting a price on gold for almost all of recorded history, so a new record high is no small deal.

Interest in ASX gold shares has predicably followed this surge in value, as has interest in gold ETFs.

There are a few ETFs on the ASX that allow investors to gain direct exposure to the gold price without having to physically own the metal. Most do so by backing the ETF with physical gold bullion stored in a bank vault. When more funds enter the ETF, they are used to bulk up that ETF's bullion reserve.

Given the surging price of gold itself, it's no surprise to see ASX gold ETFs following suit. To illustrate, the VanEck Gold Bullion ETF (ASX: NUGG) has gained an impressive 18.7% over 2024 to date. That beats out most other investments, including the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) and the S&P 500 Index.

Other ASX gold ETFs, such as the Perth Mint Gold ETF (ASX: PMGOLD), the Global X Physical Gold ETF (ASX: GOLD), and the BetaShares Gold Bullion ETF (ASX: QAU), have performed similarly. Every ETF on this list, with the exception of QAU, has recently clocked a new record high.

Is it too late to buy ASX gold ETFs at all-time highs?

But with gains like that already under the belt, is it too late to invest in ASX gold ETFs today?

I tend to think that it is. Gold, like most commodities, typically rises and falls on a cyclical basis rather than climbing slowly and steadily.

Gold's trajectory over the 21st century thus far has been upward. However, this hasn't come without peaks and troughs in between. A subsequent slump has followed every past all-time high for gold.

Long-term gold investors probably remember the then-all-time record of just under US$1,900 that gold hit in 2011. It took almost another decade before that high was again surpassed in 2020. In the meantime, the price of gold almost halved from that high at one point when it hit US$1,060 an ounce in 2015.

As such, I think the best time to buy gold, and by extension gold ETFs, is when it is in one of these slumps. Not when it is minting fresh new all-time highs. Of course, this time could be different, and gold might hit US$3,000 an ounce by the end of the year, for all I know.

But I like to take investing cues from history, and in this case, I think the lesson is clear.

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Investors have been sending ASX gold stocks soaring amid a fast-rising gold price.

It was only back on 3 October that the yellow metal was trading for US$1,823 per ounce.

By 28 February, that same ounce was worth US$2,030.

And over the past five weeks, gold has continued to charge higher, hitting new record highs of more than US$2,355 per ounce earlier today.

As for the performance of the Aussie gold miners?

Since 28 February the S&P/ASX All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) has soared an eye-popping 26%. For some context, that compares to a 3% gain posted by the ASX 200 over this same time.

The Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX: NST) share price has underperformed the gold index, though it's still up a very healthy 19% since 28 February.

The Newmont Corp (ASX: NEM) share price, on the other hand, has outperformed, up 33% over this time. Evolution Mining Ltd (ASX: EVN) shares have also outpaced the gold benchmark, gaining 36% since 28 February.

With these fat gains already in the bag, is the ASX gold train ready to run out of puff?

Or can it keep charging ahead?

What now for the speeding ASX gold train?

While the future is inherently uncertain, I believe that the gold price and most ASX gold stocks could still offer some sizeable gains in 2024.

That's because the demand outlook for gold continues to look very strong.

The yellow metal, which pays no yield itself, tends to perform better in low or falling interest rate environments. While we're not sure when the US Federal Reserve, the RBA and other central banks will begin cutting rates, some easing certainly looks to be on the cards for 2024.

Gold also has been benefiting from its safe-haven status, both in terms of an uncertain global economic outlook and amid rising geopolitical tensions from the Middle East to Eastern Europe.

The gold price should also find support with both consumer demand (particularly in China) and central bank demand at near-record levels and forecast to remain strong.

So, I think the gold train certainly has some steam left in it.

Investors looking to get exposure to further potential rises in the gold price without buying and storing physical bullion themselves could consider buying an exchange-traded fund (ETF) like Perth Mint Gold (ASX: PMGOLD) or Betashares Gold Bullion ETF (ASX: QAU).

Or, for potentially leveraged returns, investors can consider buying shares in the big ASX gold producers like Newmont, Northern Star and Evolution Mining. These stocks will often rise (or fall) significantly more than any underlying moves in the gold price.

If you're not sure how or where to invest your hard-earned money, please reach out for some expert advice.

The post Is it too late to get on board the ASX gold train? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

As I pen this, three ASX gold ETFs are cracking into new all-time highs.

This comes as the yellow metal itself again launches into record territory.

There are some risks involved with any investment. However, investors opting to buy an ETF won't need to buy and safely store physical bullion themselves.

Three ASX gold ETFs shining bright

The three gold ETFs in question all offer ASX investors exposure to the performance of gold by buying shares on the stock market.

Perth Mint Gold (ASX: PMGOLD) is up 0.9% today, trading for an all-time high of $35.00 a share.

According to Perth Mint's website, "Gold offers investors protection against market volatility, inflation and geopolitical uncertainty."

Annual management fees run at 0.15%. And PMGOLD has returned an impressive annualised 10.9% gain over the past five years, handily outpacing inflation.

The second ETF smashing all-time highs today is ETFS Metal Securities Australia Limited (ASX: GOLD).

The ETF is also up 0.9% today, hitting a record $32.39 a share.

Management fees are 0.4%, and it's backed by physical gold. The company notes that, "Each physical bar is segregated, individually identified and allocated."

GOLD has returned an annualised 12.7% over five years.

Also riding the soaring gold price to new highs is Betashares Gold Bullion ETF (ASX: QAU). Shares are up 1.3% at the time of writing at $19.09, having earlier peaked at $19.21.

Also backed by physical gold, the ASX ETF is hedged for currency movements in the AUD/USD exchange rate.

Management fees are 0.59%. And the ETF has returned an annualised 6.4% over five years.

What's happening with the gold price?

The ASX gold ETFs and ASX gold miners are surging on the back of booming demand for gold.

The yellow metal is currently trading for US$2,283 per troy ounce, having touched US$2,287 per ounce in earlier trade today.

Either level tops Monday's previous record high gold price of US$2,266 per ounce. And it sees bullion up more than 25% since the recent lows of US$1,820 per ounce on 5 October.

Gold has been supported on numerous fronts.

First, there's the looming prospect of interest rate cuts from the United States Federal Reserve, the RBA and other leading global central banks. Gold, which pays no yield itself, generally performs better in low or falling interest rate environments.

Gold, and ASX gold ETFs, are also benefiting from ongoing strong central bank demand, which remains near record levels in 2024.

And bullion's haven status has come to the fore amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.

The combined factors could see a significant further upside in the gold price.

Last month, JPMorgan Chase & Co forecast that bullion could trade for US$2,500 per ounce.

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Let's take a look at the gold price itself for a moment though. On Monday, gold was fetching around US$1,876 per ounce, up from US$1,867 the previous week. This jump is what spurred the new highs we saw on Monday.

Today, the precious metal is asking US$1,923 per ounce – another 2.5% above where it was on Monday.

So it's no secret that these sharp rises in gold are being fuelled by the turmoil we are seeing in the global financial system right now. On Monday, we have the news that US bank SVB Financial Group had gone belly up. Today, everyone is talking about Credit Suisse's implosion.

Failing banks is one of the most disruptive events for a financial system to deal with. So it's perhaps no surprise to see investors panicking and heading into the 'safe haven' of gold.

But let's see where the rubber is hitting the road.

These ASX gold ETFs are at new record highs

So the ASX has seen not one, but two ASX gold ETFs hit new record highs today.

The first is the Global X Physical Gold ETF (ASX: GOLD). On Monday, we covered how this ETF had hit a new high of $26.49. Well today, that same ETF has climbed even higher and hit a new record of $26.94 per unit this morning.

It's not the only ETF at new heights either. The Perth Mint Gold (ASX: PMGOLD) ETF has also seen a new high today. Perth Mint Gold units hit their new record of $29.02 just after market open this morning as well:

Both of these ETFs allow investors to indirectly buy gold by holding physical gold bars on their behalf. Thus, the value of this gold and the ETF is directly affected by higher gold prices. So it's no surprise to see these two gold ETFs at new high watermarks this Thursday. 

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