Gold-backed exchange-traded funds (ETFs) saw a record inflow of $19 billion in January 2026, despite a recent dip in the price of the precious metal.
The surge reflects continued global investor appetite for gold as a safe-haven asset amid rising geopolitical tensions and financial market uncertainty.
The yellow metal achieved historic highs last month, surpassing $5,000 per ounce, marking an extraordinary 14 percent jump in a single month.
According to the World Gold Council, January 2026 witnessed the largest monthly investment inflows into gold ever recorded, pushing total assets under management to a record $669 billion, a monthly increase of 20 percent.
Global gold holdings rose by 120 tons to approximately 4,145 tons, with positive inflows recorded across all regions, led by North America and Asia.
Investors in Asia added $9.67 billion (62 tons), while North America attracted $6.78 billion (43 tons). Europe saw smaller inflows of $1.965 billion (13 tons), despite rising prices and escalating trade tensions.
On a country level, the United States led inflows for the eighth consecutive month with $6.493 billion, followed by China with $6.189 billion and India with $2.5 billion, reflecting investors’ preference for portfolio diversification.
Trading activity surged alongside investment flows. Global gold markets recorded a 52 percent increase in average daily trading volumes, reaching $623 billion in January, 72 percent above the 2025 monthly average.
The final week of January saw daily trading spike to $963 billion, representing a 160 percent increase month-on-month, highlighting heightened market volatility.
