The Great Bull Run of 2025: A Symphony of Precious Metals

🌟🌟🌟This year has been nothing short of historic for the "Monetary Metals".  We are witnessing a once in a generation surge where Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium are no longer just hedges.  They are the lead singers of the global market stage.

Gold has repeatedly smashed records, surging past USD 4,500 an ounce in December 2025.

Silver has been the most explosive performer, rocketing over 140 % year todate to hit record highs above USD 71.

Platinum and Palladium have awakened as "sleeping giants" surging over 102% this year, hitting near 3 year highs.

Why Did These Metals Go Up So Much?

The spectacular run in 2025 was driven by a powerful cocktail of macroeconomic, industrial and geopolitical factors:

Geopolitical Uncertainty and Safe Haven Demand:  

Heightened global tensions including trade disputes and regional conflicts, drove investors and central banks alike to seek safe haven assets.  This flight to safety was a primary driver with Gold in particular benefiting from massive central bank purchases as they diversified reserves away from the US Dollar.

Expectations of US Rate Cuts:

The markets are betting on the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates in 2026.  Lower interest rates reduce the opportunity cost of holding non interest bearing assets like precious metals , making them more attractive compared to bonds or cash.  A weaker US dollar has also boosted their appeal for foreign buyers.

Robust Industrial Demand and Supply Constraints:

Unlike Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium have significant industrial applications that provided an extra boost.

Silver was added to the US critical minerals list and saw a huge demand from the growing solar panels, electronics and electric vehicle industries, compounding a 5th consecutive year of supply deficits.

Platinum and Palladium benefited from a rebound in global auto production where they are used in catalytic converters.  Supply constraints in key producing regions like South Africa and potential tariffs on Russian exports exacerbated tight market conditions, pushing prices higher.

Strategy : Go Long or Go Short?

My Verdict : Go Long 

While the breakneck pace of 2025 may moderate , the consensus for 2026 remains firmly bullish.  The momentum is driven by structural changes, including ongoing central bank buying, geopolitical fragmentation and a global rate cut fever.

My Top 3 ETFs for Precious Metals 

1.  $iShares Gold Trust(IAU)$ : The Titan for low cost, liquid Gold exposure.  IAU is one of the most popular and liquid Gold ETFs globally, designed to reflect the performance of the price of Gold Bullion.  It physically holds Gold bars in secure vaults.

Why is IAU a top pick?

IAU is widely favoured by Buy and Hold investors like me, for its significantly lower expense ratio  of only 0.25% compared to $SPDR Gold Shares(GLD)$  which is 0.50%.  This makes IAU a more cost efficient way to capture Gold's long term appreciation without the hassles of physical storage.

2.  $iShares Silver Trust(SLV)$  

SLV is the largest Silver ETF in the world that exclusively holds physical silver bullion.  It aims to track the spot price of Silver.

Why is SLV a Top Pick?

As the most liquid Silver ETF, it allows investors easy entry and exit to a metal that acts as both a monetary metal like Gold, and an industrial metal used heavily in technology.  This dual nature gives it explosive potential during strong economic recoveries and safe haven rushes as seen in 2025.

3.  $abrdn Physical Precious Metals Basket Shares ETF(GLTR)$  

GLTR ETF is an unique ETF that offers exposure to all 4 major precious metals - Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium.  The underlying metals are held in physically allocated form in London vaults.

Why is GLTR a Top Pick?

GLTR is a powerful one stop shop for diversification.  Instead of trying to time which single metal will outperform next, you own the entire precious metals complex.  It delivered a phenomenal 90% year todate return in 2025, highlighting its effectiveness as a portfolio diversifier during a broad market surge.

The USD 5000 Gold Question: Will it hit in 2026?

Yes it is highly probable.  Major institutions like JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs have all officially forecasted Gold to reach or exceed USD 5,000/Oz by late 2026.

Choosing Your Weapons: Futures, ETFs or Leveraged ETFs?

Futures: Best for high net worth traders with "iron" stomachs.

ETFs (IAU, SLV, GLTR):  My "Goldilocks" Choice.  They are cost efficient, liquid and reflect the actual price of physical bullion.

Leveraged ETFs (eg. $ProShares Ultra Silver(AGQ)$  ) are best for day trading due to daily decay.

Concluding Thoughts 

I have been fortunate to get in early on IAU and SLV and have benefited from the compounding growth of these 2 ETFs.  This is my tactical play to hedge against inflation and volatility in the markets.

In a world where digital currencies fluctuate and Fiat systems are tested, precious metals remain the only assets that are "nobody else's liability".  2025 was a wake up call.  2026 will be the year this rally turns into legacy.  Do not just watch history happen - own a piece of it.

Hold tight:  The "Dragon Gate" to USD 5000 Gold is swinging wide open.

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