Key Points Pax Gold is up 74% for the year, keeping pace with the skyrocketing price of physical gold. Pax Gold offers investors an easier and more cost-effective way to get exposure to the price of gold than a traditional gold ETF. As long as gold is soaring in value, Pax Gold could be a superior form of "digital gold" over Bitcoin. 10 stocks we like better than PAX Gold › While Bitcoin has easily been the top-performing cryptocurrency of the past decade, it's not the best cryptocurrency to buy ...

As Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) sits around $87,000, down 6.4% in 2025, gold — tracked by the iShares Gold Trust (NYSE:GLD) — has returned over 70% and hit an all-time high above $4,500 this year.Bitcoin Built Infrastructure, Gold Got The CapitalBitcoin achieved milestones that seemed impossible five years ago. Spot ETFs pulled in over $132 billion from BlackRock Inc. (NYSE:BLK) , Grayscale, and Fidelity Investments. Strategy Inc. (NASDAQ:MSTR) accumulated over 200,000 BTC. Corporate treasuries treated Bitcoin as ...

Gold-backed ETFs are again in focus as gold (or Au) continued its climb with a bullish trajectory towards a record high, with investors increasingly turning to such funds as a hedge against stock market volatility driven by technology stock valuations and US interest rate cuts, according to a Bloomberg report. • SPDR Gold Shares stock is showing upward bias. Where is GLD stock headed?Spot gold strengthened as much as 1.2% on Monday, approaching a level seen in October, in a continuation of a streak of gain ...

Core Insights - Precious metals, particularly gold, have shown significant performance in 2025, with the SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) achieving a 62% gain, raising questions about the sustainability of this rally [1] - The rally is driven by structural factors, notably central bank purchases, rather than retail sentiment or inflation concerns [3] Central Bank Activity - Central banks purchased 53 tonnes of gold in October 2025, totaling 254 tonnes year-to-date, indicating a strategic shift in reserves rather than opportunistic trading [3] - Poland added 16 tonnes to its reserves, while Brazil continued its buying trend, highlighting ongoing institutional interest [3] Market Signals - Monitoring central bank statistics is crucial; a slowdown in purchases from emerging markets could indicate waning confidence, while increased buying from new entrants would reinforce demand [4] - The Federal Reserve's guidance has also influenced gold prices, with forecasts suggesting gold could reach $4,900 per ounce by the end of 2026 due to persistent demand and macroeconomic uncertainty [5] Investment Alternatives - The iShares Gold Trust (IAU) offers a lower-cost alternative to GLD, with a 0.25% expense ratio compared to GLD's 0.40%, resulting in better long-term returns for buy-and-hold investors [6] - GLD's larger asset base of $141 billion compared to IAU's $32 billion makes it more suitable for large or frequent trades [6] Future Outlook - The key macro factor for GLD's performance in the next 12 months is whether central bank buying remains above 50 tonnes monthly [7]

Group 1 - The article provides a market analysis focusing on key financial instruments including Gold Spot US Dollar, S&P 500, SPDR® Gold Shares, and iShares Gold Trust [1] Group 2 - The analysis highlights the performance trends of gold and equity markets, indicating potential investment opportunities [1]

Market Performance Overview - International markets have significantly outperformed domestic markets year to date, with MSCI Korea Total Return leading at 78.08% [1] - The S&P 500 Total Return stands at 17.81%, indicating a stark contrast with international performance [1] Sector Performance - In the US, large-cap stocks, particularly in technology, have been the leaders, with the NASDAQ showing strong performance [5] - AI stocks have been the primary drivers of market gains, with notable performances from Micron Technology (181.89%), Palantir Technologies (122.79%), and Broadcom (75.069%) [10] International vs. Domestic Trends - Outside the US, value stocks have led the market, contrasting with the growth lagging behind in the US [11] - Small-cap stocks have also performed well internationally, with gains over 30% [11] Commodity Performance - Commodities have had a strong year, particularly Platinum (83.73%), Gold (60.39%), and Palladium (58.56%), while crude oil has decreased by 6.47% [14] Real Estate and Bonds - International real estate has outperformed domestic real estate markets [15] - Bonds, especially in the intermediate range of 3 to 10 years, have shown strong performance, with the iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF returning 8.86% [18]

Core Insights - Gold prices are under pressure due to reduced expectations for a U.S. interest-rate cut next month, with prices briefly falling below $4,000 an ounce before recovering slightly [1][3] - Central banks have significantly increased their gold purchases, with Goldman Sachs estimating a purchase of 64 tons in September, more than triple the amount in August [5] - Despite recent declines, gold is on track for its best annual performance since 1979, with a year-to-date increase of over 50% as of November 17, 2025 [4] Market Dynamics - Interest-rate swaps indicate less than a 50% chance of a December rate reduction, a notable drop from previous expectations of a quarter-point cut, negatively impacting gold's outlook [3] - The U.S. dollar has gained 1.3% over the past month, contributing to gold's underperformance, as SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) has lost approximately 7.8% in the same period [2] Central Bank Activity - The People's Bank of China (PBoC) has continued its monthly gold reserve additions, bringing its total holdings to 2,304.5 tons, indicating a bullish trend for gold [6] - India imported gold worth $14.7 billion in October, a nearly 200% year-over-year increase, with consumers purchasing an estimated $11 billion during a five-day festival [5] Investment Strategies - Bridgewater Associates' founder Ray Dalio recommends investors allocate up to 15% of their portfolios to gold, highlighting its role as a hedge against monetary debasement and geopolitical uncertainty [7] - Gold ETFs such as SPDR Gold Trust (GLD), iShares Gold Trust (IAU), and SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust (IAUM) are suggested as potential investment opportunities for those looking to capitalize on the long-term bullish trend in gold [8]

Core Viewpoint - Gold has significantly outperformed the S&P 500 in 2025, rising by 48% compared to the S&P 500's 17% increase, leading to contrasting opinions from prominent investors Warren Buffett and Ray Dalio regarding its value as an investment asset [2][15]. Investment Perspectives - Warren Buffett views gold as an "unproductive" asset, emphasizing its lack of utility and inability to generate revenue or earnings over time [2][4][5]. - Buffett argues that the total value of all above-ground gold is approximately $28 trillion, which could alternatively purchase the world's three largest companies (Nvidia, Microsoft, and Apple) multiple times [3][4]. - Ray Dalio, in contrast, advocates for gold as a crucial asset for investors, particularly in light of rising national debt and inflation concerns, suggesting that investors should consider allocating up to 15% of their portfolios to gold [7][12]. Economic Context - The U.S. national debt has surpassed $38 trillion, with a budget deficit of $1.8 trillion for fiscal 2025, raising concerns about the sustainability of current fiscal policies [8][10]. - Dalio draws parallels between the current economic climate and the 1970s, when inflation and government spending led to a loss of confidence in paper currency, thus increasing the appeal of gold as a store of value [9][10]. Investment Strategy - While gold's recent performance is exceptional, its long-term compound annual return of 7.96% over the past 30 years is lower than the S&P 500's 10.6% return, suggesting that gold may not be the superior investment in a stable economic environment [15]. - In the event of a fiscal crisis, gold may attract significant investment inflows, making it a potentially valuable asset for risk management [16][17].

Core Insights - Gold has experienced significant price increases, climbing 26.62% over the past six months and 61.51% year to date, with a notable 15.14% gain in the last month alone [1][2] - Market expectations of further Federal Reserve rate cuts and increasing demand for safe-haven assets are likely to support gold's price growth into 2026, with projections suggesting it could reach $5,000 [2][4] Market Dynamics - The weakening U.S. dollar, driven by anticipated interest rate cuts, has made gold more affordable for international buyers, contributing to its price rise [6] - Ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and China are prompting investors to seek refuge in gold, further enhancing its appeal [5] Investment Strategies - A long-term passive investment strategy is recommended for gold ETF investing, allowing investors to capitalize on potential short-term price corrections as buying opportunities [8] - Investors are advised to consider allocating up to 15% of their portfolios to gold, as suggested by notable investors like Ray Dalio, which contrasts with traditional advice of limiting such allocations [10] ETF Options - For physical gold exposure, investors can consider ETFs such as SPDR Gold Shares (GLD), iShares Gold Trust (IAU), and SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust (GLDM), with GLD being the most liquid option [13] - Gold miners ETFs, like VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) and Sprott Gold Miners ETF (SGDM), provide access to the gold mining sector, which can amplify gains and losses compared to direct gold investments [15]

Core Insights - Ray Dalio suggests that gold may become the hottest asset of 2025, surpassing AI stocks as a preferred investment choice due to shifting global dynamics and increasing risks associated with debt assets [1][5][6] Gold Performance - Gold has reached a record high of $4,000 per ounce, marking a 121% increase since the end of 2022 and over 50% growth in 2023, making it the best-performing asset class of 2025 [2] - The SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:GLD) has returned over 50% to investors year-to-date, while AI stocks, tracked by the Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF (NASDAQ:AIQ), have only returned just over 30% [4] Market Sentiment and Trends - Global gold ETFs have seen a significant increase, reaching $472 billion in assets under management in September, reflecting a 23% quarter-over-quarter growth [4] - ETFs like GLD and iShares Gold Trust (NYSE:IAU) are experiencing steady inflows, indicating that Dalio's bullish outlook on gold is resonating with investors seeking protection against market volatility [5] Investment Strategy Shift - Dalio emphasizes a fundamental shift from speculative, growth-focused assets to traditional stores of wealth like gold, which has no counterparty risk and performs well during monetary tightening and geopolitical tensions [6][7] - The current macroeconomic environment, characterized by high inflation and fears of currency debasement, is driving the rally in gold prices [6] New Narrative for Gold - Gold is being redefined as a viable alternative to the AI-driven investment frenzy, appealing to both portfolio managers and retail investors looking for a stable hedge [7][8]