125.61 -0.62 (-0.49%)
Pre-Market: 4:54AM EDT
Previous Close | 125.62 |
Open | 125.78 |
Bid | 125.61 x 1200 |
Ask | 125.63 x 1200 |
Day's Range | 125.67 - 126.34 |
52 Week Range | 114.80 - 129.51 |
Volume | 4,733,107 |
Avg. Volume | 7,940,775 |
Net Assets | 36B |
NAV | 125.53 |
PE Ratio (TTM) | N/A |
Yield | 0.00% |
YTD Return | 1.73% |
Beta (3y) | 0.22 |
Expense Ratio (net) | 0.40% |
Inception Date | 2004-11-18 |
McDonald joins leading digital currency asset manager from SPDR Gold Trust, where she served as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer NEW YORK , April 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Grayscale Investments, LLC ...
Iran's leaders seem to have contracted a case of economic idiocy. The news comes during a period of fast-deteriorating diplomatic relations between Tehran and Washington, which makes the currency denomination change look like a way for the Iranian leadership to snub the U.S. Iran's announcement seems as ridiculous as that of Venezuela's socialist leader Nicolas Maduro. In March that country decided to tackle the nation's wealth-withering hyperinflation by eliminating three zeros from the currency, the Bolivar.
Contrarians have yet to catch the break they've been waiting for. Some think the tide is turning in their favor on some asset classes.
Gold futures suffered a second consecutive session of losses on Friday, as strength in the dollar and gains in Treasury yields sent prices for the metal lower for the week. For the week, gold futures fell by roughly 0.7%, the first such loss in three weeks. The contract saw a 3% gain for the week.
Analyst estimates for gold miners’ (GDX) revenues can give us a good idea about their outlook on gold prices (GLD) as well as companies’ production growth. In this part of our series, we’ll assess analysts’ revenue expectations for gold companies in 1Q18 and beyond. Analysts expect Barrick Gold (ABX) to generate revenues of ~$1.84 billion in 1Q18.
Crude oil started this week on a weaker note but regained strength as the week progressed. After the mixed performance on Thursday, crude oil started Friday on a stable note and traded near three-year high price levels in the early hours.
The International Monetary Fund (or IMF) issued an update to its world economic outlook on the eve of IMF and World Bank meetings in Washington this week. The IMF warned that a major trade rift between the US and China could threaten global economic growth, which otherwise should rise solidly this year. The agency still maintained its forecast of 3.9% for global economic growth, which would be the fastest rate of growth since 2011.
Commodities rallied furiously Thursday morning, but leveled off by the afternoon -- a lesson for any investor to be wary of any asset class that rises too much, too fast. Brent crude gained 0.41% to $73 per barrel, West Texas Intermediate was roughly flat ending the day at around $68. Earlier in the session, Brent and WTI had both been up more than 1%.
Precious metals had another up day as gold futures for April expiration rose 0.48% on Friday, April 13, closing at $1,344.80 per ounce. Silver rose 1.1%, ending the day at $16.60 per ounce.
Gold ETFs offer a convenient way to take advantage of the volatility of the precious metals market.
A classic technical analysis pattern is playing out on the gold ETF chart based on the monthly prices. From the standpoint of classic technical analysis – the kind that John J. Murphy elucidates in Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets – this indicates the potential for reversal. Gold ETF chart. Since this is the case, a decent technical analyst would check for other types of indications to look for confirmation or non-confirmation.
The answer isn't as simple as you may think if you look at the big picture gold plays in the investing world.
Gold ETF investors bought 173.4 tons of gold in 2017, 9% higher year-over-year (or YoY). In 2018 year-to-date (or YTD), the inflows in gold-backed ETFs have been strong. As of April 13, ETF holdings totaled 2,186 tons, which is 5.2% higher YoY.
On April 13, US crude oil (USO) May futures settled at $67.39 per barrel—the highest closing level for US crude oil active futures in more than three years. Oil prices have been climbing lately due to geopolitical tensions, which have increased worries of disruptions to supply, especially in the Middle East. New sanctions on Russia could further lift oil prices.
Geopolitical tensions, trade war fears, rate hikes, and market volatility have left investors restless. Geopolitical issues started when President Trump imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. The issues increased due to a potential trade war between the United States and China. Next, President Trump targeted Russia. Sanctions have been imposed on several Russian entities, including aluminum giant RUSAL. Missile attacks on Syria further escalated geopolitical tensions.
Overall, gold has been rising in 2018, mainly due to the geopolitical tensions that keep increasing. First, we had fears of a US-China trade war, and now we have the Syrian chemical attack and subsequent air strikes. Another crucial element is the decline of the US dollar, which we’ll look at in the next part of this series.
Crude oil started this week on a weaker note by declining on Monday and breaking the five-day gaining streak. Crude oil started April 17 on a mixed note and traded near opening prices in the early hours.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released US jobs data for March 2018 on April 6. The job growth was weaker than expected. The US added 103,000 jobs in March as compared to upwardly revised 326,000 jobs the previous month. The economists were expecting an addition of 185,000 jobs in March, as per Bloomberg. While a slowdown was expected in March due to February’s surge underpinned by hiring due to unseasonably warm weather, the decline was more than what the market expected. The unemployment rate has remained at 4.1% for six months. The Fed is forecasting a rate of 3.8% by the end of this year.
Crude oil regained strength last week and surged to three-year high price levels. However, crude oil opened lower on Monday and traded with weakness in the early hours.
All three of these gold ETFs can give you exposure to the precious metal, so which should you choose?
SPDR Gold Shares (NYSE:GLD) is the vehicle under which most investors are able to hold gold. The GLD ETF represents fractional, undivided beneficial ownership interests in a trust whose sole assets are gold bullion on and, from time to time, cash. The truth is that precious metals don’t really make for a very good long-term investment.
Yahoo Finance's Jared Blikre and Alexis Christoforous break down the latest market action.