Why Gold ETFs Are All About Timing

Investor sentiments change with the seasons and summer proved to be a lackluster season for gold. Nevertheless, a new season may provide gold and related exchange traded funds (ETFs) with the opportunity to shine.

A recent dip in gold prices renewed fund manager interest in gold, citing the pullback as a buying opportunity, remarks Dan Well for MoneyNews.

Gold abated from its recent high of $992.10 an ounce on June 3, but many investors still believe inflation will kick in sooner or later. Some portfolio managers believe gold may even touch $1,300 as soon as spring. Gold is a popular hedge in inflationary times.

In the short term, seasonal changes may be a significant factor in gold’s decline. Historically, gold prices tend to dip during summer because the period lacks big gift-giving holidays. But purchases of gold-related products resume in the fall when the Indian wedding season, Ramadan, Christmas, and the Chinese New Year kick in.

Many people don’t know how many ounces a bar of gold actually contains, comments Jim Wang for Bargaineering. In Wang’s search for the answer, he discovered that there’s really no standard when referring to “gold bars.” There is, however, the “400 ounce London Good Delivery.” At $946 an ounce, the price as of Aug. 11, one hefty stick of gold comes to $378,704. Yowza.

• iShares COMEX Gold Trust (IAU): up 7.3% year-to-date

• SPDR Gold Shares (GLD): up 7.4% year-to-date

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