Hold these ETFs for gold & silver exposure

Article Excerpt

In 2011, gold shot up to a high of $1,950 U.S. an ounce, and silver reached a peak of $48.58. Gold prices then fell steadily, dropping to $1,050 an ounce in December 2015 for the first time since early 2010. That month, silver also declined to a five-year low of $13.65 an ounce. Gold now trades at $1,238 and silver at $18.28. That reflects higher commodity prices. It also reflects the belief that slow global economic growth will keep interest rates low and raise the possibility of high inflation. Globally, political uncertainty also increases the appeal of gold for investors. However, an improving U.S. economy could eventually push interest rates higher. In that event, gold and silver would likely drop. Still, if you want to hold gold or silver stocks, these two ETFs offer top-quality global miners. ISHARES S&P/TSX GLOBAL GOLD INDEX FUND $13.16 (Toronto symbol XGD; buy or sell through brokers; ca.ishares.com) aims to mirror the performance of the S&P/TSX Global Gold Index; it’s…