Two precious-metal ETFs to hold

Article Excerpt

In 2011, gold shot up to a high of $1,950 U.S. an ounce, and silver reached a peak of $48.48. Gold prices then fell steadily, hitting a low of $1,085 in August 2015 for the first time since mid-2010. The metal now trades at $1,146. Silver also declined to a five-year low of $14.11 an ounce in August 2015. It now trades at $16.05. In the longer term, gold and silver could well regain their 2011 highs. This would simply reflect the vast inflationary expansion in the U.S. money supply since the 2008 financial crisis. Meanwhile, growth-promoting policies gained a following in the 2014 U.S. mid-term election, a trend that may continue no matter which party wins the 2016 presidential race. This could increase tax collections and cut the deficit. If that happens, gold and silver could stay low. Still, if you want to hold gold or silver stocks, these two ETFs offer top-quality global miners and low fees. ISHARES…