As gold prices spike to 18-month highs, investors are turning to ETFs to achieve exposure to the metal without the hassle of direct ownership.

Geopolitical tensions have heightened amid the tariff game and markets continue to swing wildly. Against this backdrop, gold has resumed its role as a safe haven — and a few ETFs stand out for performance and value.

Also Read: Hang Seng Skids Into Bear Zone As US-China Tariff War Rattles Global ETFs

Global physically backed gold ETFs experienced robust inflows of $8.6 billion in March alone, as per recent figures from the World Gold Council, taking total first quarter inflows to $21 billion — the second-highest quarterly total in dollar terms ever. The only other time inflows were greater? The second quarter of 2020, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic-related pandemonium.

North America dominated the surge, with $6.5 billion of March flows and $12.9 billion for the quarter, or approximately 76% of total. This dramatic rise mirrors a larger investor shift to gold, particularly as volatility shakes both equity and bond markets.

Here are three gold ETFs investors might want to have on their watchlist:

Franklin Responsibly Sourced Gold ETF (NYSE:FGDL)

Year-to-date (YTD) Return: 20.83%

Expense Ratio: 0.15%

FGDL is the top performer when it comes to returns this year so far. What makes it stand out is its emphasis on responsibly sourced gold, appealing to investors who care about ESG factors as much as returns.

SPDR Gold MiniShares Trust (NYSE:GLDM)

YTD Return: 20.89%

Expense Ratio: 0.10%

A smaller and cheaper sibling to the heavy-hitting SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:GLD), GLDM provides low-cost investors with direct ownership of physical gold without giving up liquidity.

iShares Gold Trust Micro (NYSE:IAUM)

YTD Return: 20.91%

Expense Ratio: 0.09%

Tailored for retail investors, this ETF provides good performance at ultra-low costs (the lowest in the space today) — an effective play on the gold theme.

Also Read: Bearish Sentiment Hits 7-Week High, Mimicking 35-Year Old Record Which Marked The Bottom Of The October 1990 Bear Market

Why the Gold Rush Now?

This increased demand for gold is occurring in the face of increasing uncertainty in global markets, fueled primarily by the latest news in U.S. trade policy.

Earlier this week, President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on 60 nations, causing a global risk-off sentiment. Although he subsequently introduced a 90-day delay of duties for the majority of nations — led by the European Union — the action was not extended to China, which was slapped with a 125% tariff increase. Beijing promptly fired back with an 84% tariff, fueling concerns of an ongoing U.S.-China trade war.

The see-saw tariff policy has had investors grasping for answers. Gold jumped 3.3% on Wednesday, then another 1.6% on Thursday, to within $50 of its record high. The metal is up almost 19% year-to-date.

Markets rallied temporarily on the news of the tariff reprieve. The S&P 500 rose almost 10% — its best day since the financial crisis — after hanging by a thread from a bear market. But the rally has not watered down gold’s appeal, particularly as investors prepare for more uncertainty and possible central bank intervention.

A weakening dollar and anticipation of additional Federal Reserve easing are fueling the rally. Spot gold increased 1.1% to $3,117.15 an ounce in London on Thursday, as the Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index fell for a second day.

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