A Gold Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) is a type of ETF that aims to track the price of domestically produced physical gold. They are passive investment instruments that invest in gold bullion and are based on gold prices.
In a nutshell, gold ETFs are units that reflect physical gold, which may be in the form of paper or in a dematerialized form. One Gold ETF unit is equivalent to 1 gram of gold and is backed by extremely pure actual gold. Gold ETFs combine the ease of gold investing with the flexibility of stock investing. Gold ETFs are listed and traded on the exchanges like the Bombay Stock Exchange Ltd. (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE), much like any other type of stock. Like other corporate shares, gold ETFs can be bought and sold at market prices and traded on the cash segment of the BSE and NSE.
Investing in gold ETFs means buying gold in electronic form. They can be bought and sold in the same manner as stocks. When investors actually redeem a gold ETF, they get the cash equivalent rather than actual gold. Trading of gold ETFs occurs via a dematerialised account (Demat) and a broker, making it a very easy option to invest electronically in gold. There is complete transparency regarding a gold ETF’s holdings due to its direct gold pricing. In addition, due to their unique structure and creation mechanism, ETFs have considerably lower expenses than physical gold investments.
Features Of Gold ETFs
A number of characteristics make gold ETFs a wise investment choice. Below is a list of a few of them:
- High liquidity: Gold ETFs have high liquidity since the units can be purchased or sold at the market price during a trading session on the stock exchange. Additionally, compared to actual gold, transaction costs like government duty and brokerage fees are substantially lower.
- Transparent investment option: Gold ETFs are tradable on the stock market, and the unit price during a trading session is the same across the nation. There are no hidden fees when trading gold ETFs that could affect investors’ earnings.
- Taxability: Taxes on gold ETFs are similar to taxes on buying or selling physical gold. If an investor trades these funds and makes a profit, he or she will be required to pay capital gains tax. Taxes apply to both short-term and long-term investments in these exchange-traded funds. Gold ETF investments held for more than 36 months are subject to long-term capital gains tax at a 20% rate after indexation. Investments held for less than 36 months will be considered short-term capital gains, and the capital gains tax will be imposed according to the unitholders’ applicable tax bracket.
- Cost-effective alternative: Purchasing gold in physical form could incur additional fees such as storage fees, bank locker fees, etc. But with gold ETFs, that is not the case. Gold ETFs charge a lower expense ratio compared to the additional costs associated with purchasing real gold. This allows investors to achieve higher returns at lower costs.
- Simple to hold for a longer period of time: Unlike owning physical gold, gold ETFs are not subject to wealth taxes. Storage and security are not problems either. Due to this, holding gold ETF units for a long time is simple.
Top Gold ETFs In India
| Scheme | 3-Year Return | AUM (Cr) |
| Aditya Birla Sun Life Gold ETF | 7.94 | 326.91 |
| Invesco India Gold ETF | 7.91 | 84.96 |
| IDBI Gold ETF | 7.85 | 85.24 |
| Axis Gold ETF | 7.82 | 675.48 |
| SBI Gold ETF | 7.82 | 2,547.04 |
Source: AMFI website
Date: 21/09/2022
Some points to consider before investing
Investors can consider the following few factors while investing in gold ETFs:
- Financial Goals: Gold exchange-traded funds are a viable option for hedging your portfolio. Gold ETFs can be a good option if the objective is to diversify the portfolio, hedge against inflation, and protect against market volatility. Therefore, compare the suitability of gold ETFs to the investment objectives.
- Performance: Prior to investing in a gold ETF, it is essential to evaluate the fund’s historical performance and fund house. Despite the fact that past performance does not guarantee future returns, it is a good indicator of the scheme’s performance. A strong performance suggests a greater likelihood of future success and overall effectiveness.
- Liquidity: Gold exchange-traded funds are highly liquid. You can easily buy and sell them because they trade on the stock exchange.
- Taxation: Short-term capital gains are subsequently added to your taxable income and taxed at the same rate as per the income tax slab. Short-term capital gains tax is levied on investments held for less than three years. While investments held for more than three years are subject to the long-term capital gains tax. Long-term capital gains are subject to a 20% tax rate with indexation benefits.
- Cost: Gold ETFs are a cost-effective method of acquiring gold. Gold ETFs are passive investment vehicles with a low expense ratio. Furthermore, compared to holding physical gold, the cost of holding the gold units is negligible because they are held in dematerialized form. Higher acquisition costs, taxes, storage costs, and theft risks are associated with physical gold.
The Benefits Of Investing In Gold ETFs
Listed below are a few benefits of investing in gold ETF funds:
- Simple to Invest: The minimum investment in a gold ETF is 1 unit, equivalent to 1 gram of gold. These ETFs are tradable on the stock exchange, and their prices are disclosed to the public. As a result, it is just as easy as stock trading. The price of the ETF is unaffected by regional price differences, GST, and other sales taxes. It simplifies the entire procedure, particularly if the individual is trading stocks through a broker or ETF fund manager. They can be traded during working hours and are much simpler to liquidate.
- Protection Against Inflation: Gold is an excellent way to safeguard your investments against inflation and currency fluctuations.
- Tax Advantages: Aside from capital gains tax, these exchange-traded funds are exempt from GST, Securities Transaction Tax, and GST, allowing investors to save on taxes. An individual may be required to pay wealth taxes if he or she invests in physical gold, particularly if he or she purchases a significant quantity of gold jewellery or gold bullion. Investments in gold ETFs are exempt from wealth taxes, making them better for tax planning.
- Safe: Compared to physical gold, gold ETFs are simple and secure investment options. There is no need to worry about theft, storage, additional locker fees, or making adjustments. The ETF units are held in the Demat account in a dematerialized format.
- Entry and Exit Load: Gold exchange-traded funds have no entry or exit loads. Only fund management and broker fees are levied on gold ETFs.
- Portfolio Diversification: ETFs for gold are beneficial for portfolio diversification. The schemes help in mitigating risk during times of market volatility.
- Less Market Risk: Gold prices do not typically fluctuate by a substantial margin, allowing investors to avoid major losses even when equity returns decline by a substantial margin.
- Loan: The ETF units can be used as collateral for loans with financial institutions.
What Is An Investment In Physical Gold?
Gold is one of India’s most popular investment options. It is a valuable asset with emotional and social worth. Gold is acquired in India in the form of coins, bars, jewellery, and gold biscuits. Gold can be purchased directly from banks, jewellers, and other dealers. There are generally no intermediaries. Therefore, purchasing physical gold carries no counterparty risk. Gold can be easily converted into cash anywhere in the world. It is a universally recognised asset that can be utilised at any time in an emergency. Even though the purchase of gold is typically kept confidential, it is advisable to keep all invoices and receipts for income tax purposes.
The tax on gold capital gains is determined by the asset’s holding period. Suppose the gold is sold prior to 36 months from the date of purchase. In such a case, the STCG are taxable at the individual’s income tax rates. After 36 months from the date of purchase, long-term capital gains are taxed at 20% with indexation. Physical gold investment has drawbacks of its own. As gold biscuits are usually sold in increments of 10 grammes, the minimum investment is typically high, and after purchasing gold, the possibility of theft is always there. And to keep it safe, people also sometimes have to pay for safety lockers. This increases the cost of storage and transportation.
| Particulars | Gold ETF | Physical Gold |
| Form | Investments are in paper or dematerialized form. | In this situation, investors must purchase gold in its physical form. |
| Cost | Compared to other forms of investment, gold ETFs have a low cost of investment. | Investing in gold in its physical form incurs a number of additional expenses, such as storage and making charges. |
| Liquidity | Gold ETFs are a highly liquid investment vehicle from which investors can withdraw their funds at any time. | Physical gold can also be viewed as a liquid investment because it can be sold at any jeweller’s shop at the current market price. |
| Demat Account | A Demat account is required. | Not required. |
Conclusion
Gold is one of the most valuable commodities and assets in the whole world. It has been used as a standard against currency for ages. The demand for gold has only increased in the recent past. Even today, gold in all its forms is gaining popularity. Gold ETFs are amongst the few assets that have consistently generated returns above the inflation rate. Consequently, their demand has only increased. Consequently, it serves as the ideal hedge against inflation. Gold ETFs and physical gold both have advantages and disadvantages. While physical gold is universally accepted, digital gold is safer. In contrast to all other forms of gold, it is very liquid. When it comes to transactions, gold ETFs are more transparent. Likewise, physical gold carries no counterparty risk. Before deciding which form of gold to purchase as an investment, it is essential for investors to consider their needs and objectives.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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What is the Purpose of a Gold ETF?
It is one of the best investment methods to diversify a financial portfolio. These exchange-traded funds are reasonably easy to purchase and offer an easier approach to investing in the gold industry. The best gold ETFs can also be utilised as a hedge against a volatile market, making them an alternative to insurance in an investor’s portfolio. For instance, if the price of gold unexpectedly drops, investors can minimise their loss by using short-term exchange-traded funds.
These exchange-traded funds are considered to be among the greatest defensive investments on the market. Due to the fact that many investors use them to protect their investments from economic fluctuations and, in extreme circumstances, currency depreciation, it is considered to share the same class characteristics as bonds. For instance, if important currencies, like the dollar, tend to fall weak, the price of gold may increase by a large margin. An individual might profit from this unexpected decline by investing in gold ETFs. These traded funds are excellent long-term investments because each unit represents 1 gramme of 99.5% pure gold. This is especially true if a person chooses to invest larger sums or performs trade systematically.
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How do Gold ETFs function?
Gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) invest in 99.5% pure gold bars. On the stock exchange, these ETFs may be purchased and sold at any time. The prices of gold ETFs are the same throughout India, unlike the prices of gold bars and gold biscuits, which may vary. An individual can easily purchase them on the BSE or NSE with a Demat and Trading account. In addition, these ETFs incur fund management fees and broker fees.
It is preferable to invest in these schemes because they are backed by physical gold and the investor can profit from the fluctuation in gold prices, rather than purchasing gold itself.
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Who Should Invest in Gold Exchange-Traded Funds?
Gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are ideal for investors who wish to track and reflect the actual gold price in real-time. Individuals who do not wish to own the actual commodity but who wish to increase their income by trading on precious metals should invest in these ETFs. It offers ample opportunities to gain exposure to the price and performance of actual gold on the market. There is no premium or making charges, so investors can save money if they make a substantial investment. Additionally, one can purchase as little as one unit (which is 1 gram).
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How to Invest in Gold Exchange Traded Funds?
One must open a trading and Demat account to invest in a Gold ETF fund. It is simple to open an account by providing identification, address, and PAN card information. The investor can invest in the chosen ETF using the trading and Demat accounts. The Exchange Traded Fund purchase confirmation will be sent to the registered mobile number and email address. In addition, a nominal brokerage fee is charged for the transaction.
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