The role of gold in a volatile world

RWC Partners is an investment management firm that specialises in helping clients to meet long-term financial needs. The group’s Diversified Return Fund aims to diversify investors’ holdings by providing defensive, uncorrelated returns. Here portfolio manager Charles Crowson and fund manager Clark Fenton explain the role of gold within this Fund.

Gold ETFs added 21% in 2020 dominating gold demand

Gold-backed ETFs and similar products (gold ETFs) recorded their eighth consecutive month of positive flows, adding 166 tonnes (t) in July – equivalent to US$9.7bn or 4.1% of assets under management (AUM). Global holdings have once again reached a new all-time high of 3,785t1 and the price of gold hit a record high of US$1,976/oz by the July-end, leaving global AUM standing at $239bn. Global net inflows of 899t (US$49.1bn) to date are considerably higher than previous annual highs, and the trend of inflows has continued in the first few trading days of August as the price of gold has breached US$2,000/oz.

Investment Update - Gold hits record high: sprint or marathon?

Gold has been on a generally positive trend for the past few years. However, the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic has made gold’s relevance as a hedge even more apparent and accelerated its price performance. Gold increased by 17% during the first half of 2020, moving up by an additional 10% in July.  

Gold mid-year outlook 2020

Our new gold market outlook examines how the combination of high risk, low opportunity cost and positive price momentum looks set to support gold investment and offset weakness in consumption from an economic contraction.

Gold ETFs close H1 with record US$40bn of net inflows

Gold-backed ETFs (gold ETFs) recorded their seventh consecutive month of positive flows, adding 104 tonnes (t) in June – equivalent to US$5.6bn or 2.7% of assets under management (AUM) – taking global holdings to new all-time highs of 3,621t1. This brings H1 global net inflows to 734t (US$39.5bn), significantly above the highest level of annual inflows, both in tonnage terms (646t in 2009) and US-dollar value (US$23bn in 2016).

Gold ETFs in India – time for growth

Vishal Jain is widely regarded as the founding father of the Indian gold ETF market. Now head of ETFs at the Nippon India Mutual Fund, Jain explains why interest in gold ETFs has soared in India recently and assesses prospects for the market.