Core Insights - The Global X - Silver Miners ETF (SIL) and the iShares Gold Trust (IAU) provide different investment approaches to precious metals, with SIL focusing on silver mining companies and IAU holding physical gold [2][8]. Cost & Size Comparison - SIL has an expense ratio of 0.65% and assets under management (AUM) of $6.7 billion, while IAU has a lower expense ratio of 0.25% and AUM of $81.2 billion [3]. - The one-year total return for SIL is 216.7%, compared to 76.64% for IAU [3]. Performance & Risk Analysis - SIL has a maximum drawdown of -24.59% over five years, while IAU has a higher maximum drawdown of -42.18% [4]. - An investment of $1,000 in SIL would grow to $2,432 over five years, whereas the same investment in IAU would grow to $2,834 [4]. Fund Structure - IAU is designed to closely mirror the price of physical gold, holding 16.07 ounces in trust as of February 20, and has been operational for 21 years [5]. - SIL holds a diversified portfolio of 39 silver mining stocks, with its largest positions in Wheaton Precious Metals, Pan American Silver, and Coeur Mining, which together account for over 40% of the fund [6]. Investment Implications - IAU serves as a direct investment in gold, making it a safer option for investors looking to gain exposure to gold without the complexities of physical ownership [9][12]. - SIL provides indirect exposure to silver prices through mining stocks, which can be influenced by individual company performance and market conditions, but comes with a higher expense ratio that may affect long-term returns [12][11].

It's been a dismal year for the crypto market. Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) is down 25% for the year, while Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) is down 36% (as of Feb. 19). With these two market bellwethers struggling to find their footing, almost no major cryptocurrencies are in the green. But there is one sector of the crypto market that is booming right now: gold-backed stablecoins. The two leaders here are Tether Gold (CRYPTO: XAUT) and PAX Gold (CRYPTO: PAXG). Together, they account for 90% of the gold-backed stablecoin ...

Group 1: Gold Price Movement - Gold futures opened at $5,126.40 per troy ounce, marking a 1.9% increase from the previous day's closing price of $5,031, the first time gold has surpassed $5,100 since January 30 [1] - The increase in gold prices follows weaker-than-expected U.S. retail data, which showed December retail and food service sales were nearly unchanged from the prior month, contrary to analysts' expectations of a 0.4% growth [1][2] - Gold's price increase is supported by soft retail sales and weak hiring trends, which bolster the case for lower interest rates that benefit gold investments [3] Group 2: Economic Indicators - The Trump Administration indicated that the upcoming December jobs report is expected to be disappointing, with ADP's employment data showing the U.S. economy added only 37,000 private jobs in December and 22,000 in January, significantly lower than economists' expectations [2] - The one-year gain for gold as of January 29 was reported at 95.6%, with increases of 4.1% over the past week and 14.6% over the past month [4][8] Group 3: Investment Options in Gold - Various methods to invest in gold include physical gold, gold mining stocks, gold ETFs, and gold futures, each with distinct advantages and disadvantages [6][9] - Physical gold is tangible and easy to purchase, while gold mining stocks can be volatile due to their profits being tied to gold prices and exposure to geopolitical risks [12][18] - Gold ETFs track the price of gold and can invest in physical gold, mining stocks, or futures, with the largest being SPDR Gold Shares, which is backed by physical gold stored in vaults [19][23]

It’s time to sit back, relax and enjoy a little joe …Welcome to another rousing edition of Black Coffee, your off-beat weekly round-up of what’s been going on in the world of money and personal finance.I’ve got another busy weekend ahead of me, so let’s get right to this week’s commentary …The future is already here – it’s just not evenly distributed.― William GibsonIf you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll end up someplace else.― Yogi BerraCredits and DebitsCredit: Did you see this? The move to abolish ...

Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. A Reddit investor summed up what many gold holders are asking right now. "I was lucky enough to guess right," the user wrote, explaining they bought 10.5 shares of the SPDR Gold Shares ETF (NYSE:GLD) at an average price of $370 in late November. Roughly two and a half months later, the position was up more than $1,100, nearly a 30% gain, as gold prices surged to record highs. The investor said they plan ...

A Reddit investor summed up what many gold holders are asking right now."I was lucky enough to guess right," the user wrote, explaining they bought 10.5 shares of the SPDR Gold Shares ETF (NYSE:GLD) at an average price of $370 in late November. Roughly two and a half months later, the position was up more than $1,100, nearly a 30% gain, as gold prices surged to record highs.The investor said they plan to hold the position inside a Roth IRA for the next 30 years, regardless of short-term moves. For that type ...

Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. Gold has crossed a threshold few expected this quickly. Spot prices surged past $5,100 an ounce in late January, extending a rally that has accelerated over the past year as geopolitical risk, fiscal strain, and currency credibility concerns collide. Analysts at Goldman Sachs now see gold reaching $5,400 by the end of 2026, while Union Bancaire Privée projects prices near $5,200 by year-end. This is a sp ...

Group 1: Gold Price Movement - Gold futures opened at $4,767.50 per troy ounce, nearly even with Tuesday's closing price of $4,765.80, and rose more than 2% to surpass $4,800 per ounce for the first time [1][2] - Gold's one-year gain was reported at 74.5% as of December 29, with a weekly increase of 3.4% and a monthly increase of 9.6% [4][7] Group 2: Geopolitical Influences - Ongoing tensions between the U.S. and several European countries regarding President Trump's bid to purchase Greenland are driving gold prices higher, with threats of 10% tariffs on multiple countries effective February 1, increasing to 25% on June 1 [2] - The potential for a revived trade war with Europe has led to a decline in the S&P 500, which fell more than 2% to 6,796.86 at the end of trading on Tuesday, indicating lower risk appetites among stock investors [3] Group 3: Investment Options in Gold - Various ways to invest in gold include physical gold, gold mining stocks, gold ETFs, and gold futures, each with its own advantages and disadvantages [5][8] - Physical gold is tangible and easy to purchase, while gold mining stocks can be volatile due to their profits being tied to gold prices and exposure to geopolitical risks [11][12] - Gold ETFs track the price of gold and can invest in physical gold, gold mining stocks, or futures, with the largest being SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) [18][21] - Gold futures are standardized contracts to purchase gold at a future date, carrying the highest risk and best suited for professional traders [20][22]

Group 1 - The core objective of the investment strategy is to generate a 7%+ income yield by investing in a portfolio of energy stocks while minimizing the risk of principal loss [1] - The focus is on both traditional and renewable energy sectors, targeting international companies that have a competitive advantage and offer strong dividend yields [1] - The investment group, Energy Profits in Dividends, emphasizes income generation through energy stocks and closed-end funds (CEFs), while also managing risk through options [1] Group 2 - The analyst has a beneficial long position in Newmont Corporation (NEM) through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives [2] - The analyst holds physical gold, silver, and platinum, along with a long position in common equity of Newmont and various gold mining funds [3]

Group 1 - The traditional method of relying solely on bank deposits for asset appreciation is becoming unrealistic due to the downward trend in market interest rates, leading to lower bank deposit returns [2] - Three alternative asset options are suggested that have been proven to be relatively stable and yield better returns than current and short-term deposits [2] - Money market funds, such as "baby products," have a median seven-day annualized yield of 1.24%, with top funds like Tianhong Yu'ebao maintaining around 1.014%, providing a potential return of approximately 1,000 to 1,240 yuan for a 100,000 yuan investment over a year [2] Group 2 - Gold assets, including gold ETFs or physical gold, are recommended as a traditional hedge against uncertainty and inflation, with a suggested allocation of no more than 20% of idle funds, equating to 20,000 yuan for a 100,000 yuan investment [3] - The demand for gold typically increases during global economic uncertainty and geopolitical conflicts, supporting gold prices [3] - Caution is advised regarding short-term trading in gold due to price volatility, and a long-term holding strategy is recommended to avoid losses from short-term fluctuations [3] Group 3 - Mid to low-risk bank wealth management products are another option, with yields generally ranging from 2% to 3%, potentially generating returns of 2,000 to 3,000 yuan on a 100,000 yuan investment over a year [4] - It is important to understand that not all wealth management products labeled as mid to low risk are the same, as some may involve significant bond investments that carry slight volatility risks [4] - With increasing regulatory oversight, banks are now providing real-time updates on product net values, emphasizing the need for thorough understanding of product details before investing [4]