GLD ETF

Gold has a year-to-date return of 28.7%, which is a bit better than the S&P 500's 26.6% gain. There are various factors that can influence gold prices, and it can be an important part of a diversified investment portfolio. Additionally, there are several methods to invest in gold, as it is a commodity affected by different economic conditions.

Gold regained its luster this week, rising to a two-week high, driven by the resumption of bullion purchases by China, hopes of another Fed rate cut next week and rising geopolitical tensions following the Syrian unrest. Investors seeking to participate in the rally could tap into the ETFs that are directly linked to the spot gold price or futures to gain exposure to the metal (read: Gold ETFs Regain Luster: Will the Rally Continue?

Some of the world's best hedge funds and trading desks on Wall Street employ a simple strategy, one that is focused on the concept of relative valuation between two assets. In today's market, the basic materials sector has shown a potential price widening between two widely followed precious metals.

Both the SPDR® Gold Shares ETF and iShares Silver Trust ETF suffered corrections recently due to uncertainties in interest rates. Such setbacks are only temporary in my view. I see multiple catalysts that can trigger a price rebound for both GLD and SLV.

The upcoming year presents both uncertainty and opportunity, with potential disruptions from Donald Trump's administration affecting industries tied to government spending and regulations. There are also numerous macro risks and trends to consider. I share three ETFs that, I think, are important to own over the next year.

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A few firsts in the U.S. ETF industry stick out to ETF nerds. November 18, 2004, was one of them.

The Fed slashed interest rates for the second time this year. Here are ETFs from sectors that are set to explode.