IAU

The iShares Gold Trust (IAU) is a commodity‑focused ETF that provides exposure solely to physical gold bullion, holding the metal in secure vaults and therefore having a 100 % allocation to the precious‑metals sector with no geographic or equity bias. Its investment approach is passive: the trust aims to track the spot price of gold, mirroring the performance of the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) gold price before expenses. Because gold often moves independently of stocks and bonds, IAU can serve investors who want a simple, low‑maintenance way to add a potential inflation hedge or safe‑haven asset to a diversified portfolio, particularly those with a long‑term horizon or a desire for risk‑adjusted diversification.