Core Insights - Gold has experienced significant volatility over the past year, with sharp price movements influenced by central bank buying, changing rate expectations, and geopolitical risks [3][4] - The SPDR Gold Shares ETF (NYSE:GLD) has mirrored this volatility, presenting opportunities for traders while creating uncertainty for long-term investors [4][8] - An AI price-prediction model forecasts a moderate upside for GLD, with an average predicted price of $512.75, indicating a potential increase of 12.41% [6][9] Trading Strategies - Active traders can utilize leveraged futures through Apex Trader Funding, which allows access to gold trading with minimal capital after passing a single evaluation [7][8] - Long-term investors can consider fractional shares through platforms like SoFi, which enables investment in GLD with as little as $5 and offers promotional stock incentives [6][8]