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Informist, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026

 

NEW DELHI – Global investors poured a record $89 billion into physically backed gold exchange-traded funds in 2025 as gold prices hit several fresh record highs on increased safe-haven demand amid geopolitical risks and financial market volatility, the World Gold Council said in its December report.

 

"As the gold price shattered records 53 times in 2025, global investors poured unprecedented capital into physically backed gold ETFs," the council said. The total assets under management in global gold ETFs in 2025 doubled to an all-time high of $559 billion while holdings rose to a record 4,025 tonnes, from 3,224 tonnes in 2024.

 

"North American funds drove most of the global inflows in 2025," the council said. "Meanwhile, Asian holdings almost doubled, while Europe saw sizable demand." Gold's performance in 2025 was remarkable due to increased demand, supported by heightened geopolitical and economic uncertainty, a weaker US dollar, and positive price momentum.

 

DECEMBER RISE

December marked the seventh consecutive month of global inflows, with gold ETFs attracting $10 billion during the month, led by North America. In December, the total assets under management rose 5% on month and holdings increased 2% on month, the council said. 

 

North American funds added $6.21 billion in December and $50.65 billion in 2025, accounting for nearly 57% of global inflows. Expectations of US monetary policy easing and increased US-Venezuela tensions raised safe-haven demand. "Concerns over an AI-driven equity bubble and related volatility sustained interest in gold, an asset with low correlation to stocks," the council said. 

 

Meanwhile, Europe added over $1 billion in December and nearly $12 billion in 2025, reversing two years of annual losses for the region. Asian inflows persisted for the fourth month, drawing $2.5 billion in December and over $25 billion in 2025. "India led the charge in December, witnessing its largest monthly inflow on record," the council said. The country registered positive flows for eight months in a row, it added. 

 

The council said 2025 was an "unprecedented year for Asian gold ETFs" with inflows during the year surpassing the region's total flow between 2007 and 2024. The first Asian gold fund was listed in 2007.

 

Meanwhile, the daily average trading volumes across all gold markets fell 2% on month to $410 billion in December. Nonetheless, global gold volumes rose 56% on year to $361 billion a day in 2025, the council said. 

 

Meanwhile, exchange-traded volumes fell 16% on month to $185 billion a day in December but rose 71% on year to $174 billion a day on average in 2025. In contrast, gold ETF trading activity rose 4% on month to $9 billion a day and remained well above the 2024 average of $2.9 billion a day.

 

Among individual funds, SPDR Gold Shares, the world's largest gold-backed ETF, recorded December inflows of 25.1 tonnes, taking its holdings to 1,070.2 tonnes. The second-largest gold-backed ETF, iShares Gold Trust, saw an inflow of 9.8 tonnes, raising its holdings to 493.7 tonnes, the council said.  End

 

US$1 = INR 90.01

 

Reported by Afra Abubacker

Edited by Rajeev Pai

 

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