SPDR Gold Shares Company profile
SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) is one of the largest physically-backed gold exchange traded funds (ETF) that “offers investors an innovative, relatively cost efficient and secure way to access the gold market”.
Gold has been one of the most unique asset classes and is the most common and valuable commodity. Ancient civilisations used gold as a currency and it has continued to symbolise prosperity and wealth throughout the centuries.
Economic factors that are shaping the gold price action are different from those that are influencing equity markets, bonds and real estate. The SPDR Gold Shares trust holds gold bars offering investors an attractive opportunity to diversify their portfolios.
It issues baskets in exchange for deposits of gold and distributes them with regard to redemptions of these baskets. The shares reflect the price movement of gold bullion in the over-the-counter (OTC) market after the deduction of the fund’s expenses.
The fund holds physical gold bullion, kept in the form of London Gold Delivery bars of 400 ounces, in an allocated account and cash. The fund’s physical gold is held by the custodian in a vault in London or in the vaults of other sub-custodians.
SPDR Gold Shares has traded on the NYSE Arca since 13 December 2007 but was originally listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in November 2004. The ETF also trades on the Singapore Stock Exchange, Tokyo Stock Exchange, The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong and the Mexican Stock Exchange.