Investors are turning to gold-based exchange-traded funds for safety amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict and resulting stock market volatility — but they’re increasingly opting for cheaper offerings, CFRA says.

Despite trading volume spikes in recent years, SPDR Gold Trust(GLD), which is the biggest ETF available on the market and is backed by gold physical, but there are many smaller, more affordable products that can also attract assets, Todd Rosenbluth, CFRA’s senior director for mutual fund research and ETF, told CNBC. “ETF Edge”This week.

These include:

GLD’s expense rate is 0.4%. The expense ratio represents how much it costs to own a given ETF — in other words, the percentage of your investment that will be deducted per year for fees.

We’ve noticed broad-based demand to invest in gold ETFs. GLD was the heavyweight but some moderately-sized, cheaper products are gaining ground,” Rosenbluth explained in Monday’s interview.

He stated that the GLD is more suitable to buy-and hold investors, rather than traders that would benefit from GLD’s liquidity.

Matthew Bartolini from State Street Global Advisors said GLD still remains an important tool especially for larger traders.

Bartolini, Head of State Street’s SPDR Americas research said that what they’ve witnessed “reveals the credibility of GLD”. GLD has traded since 2004, he added.

He stated that GLD is the “gold standard” in ETF allocations to gold. It will continue to be used by many investors whether they are short-term or long-term, owing to its liquidity profile and the history in this space.

Gold pricesHighs reached this week that have not been seen since September 2020

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