What are Exchange Traded Funds

ETFs and Gold ETFs

An Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) is a security that trades on a stock exchange and generally tracks the performance of an index. It is a single stock representing a basket of securities underlying the index which can be comprised of stocks, bonds, or other assets such as commodities. However, ETFs have evolved over recent years to allow for exposure to alternative asset classes, the implementation of more sophisticated investment strategies, and even active management.

Gold Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are open ended mutual funds that are passively managed and most of them seek to mirror the return of an index, a commodity or a basket of assets. ETFs are listed and traded on stock exchanges like stocks. They enable investors to gain broad exposure to indices or defined underlying asset (commodity) with relative case, on a real-time basis, and at a lower cost than many other forms of investing.

Gold ETFs provided investors a means of participating in the gold bullion market without the necessity of taking physical delivery of gold, and to buy and sell that participation through the trading of a security on stock exchange. Gold ETF would be a passive investment; so, when gold prices move up, the ETF appreciates and when gold prices move down, the ETF loses value.

Gold ETF tracks the performance of Gold Bullion. Gold ETFs provide returns that, before expenses, closely correspond to the returns provided by physical Gold. Each unit is approximately equal to the price of 1 gram of Gold. But, there are Gold ETFs which also provide a unit which is approximately equal to the price of ½ gram of Gold.

Source:equitybulls