The first kind of gold fund actually has gold bullion in its holdings. This is actually hard currency that will always have value, unlike stocks and contracts. No matter what happens to the world economy, this type of fund will always have a value. Examples of this type of Gold ETF fund is SPDR Gold ETF (GLD), iShare Comex Gold Trust (IAU) and Kotak Gold ETF (KGEFT).

There are also the ETF gold funds that hold stock in gold mining companies. These companies mine, transport and have reserves of gold that affects the value of their stocks along with any labor dispute with the unions that do the actual work. An example of this type of gold ETF’s is market Vectors Gold Miners (GDX).

The last type of EFT that has a stake in gold is the one that invests in gold futures. These are funds that have profits or losses are reflected in the upward or downward movement of the price of gold over time. The most popular of this type is the PowerShares DB Gold fund (DGL). The index by which this ETF is graded against is the Deutsche Bank Index in Germany.

The current gold prices have an effect on each of these ETF’s in a slightly different way. The history of this type of investment goes back to 2003 with the launching of the first of the Gold ETF funds. It was the Gold Bullion Securities on the Australian Stock exchange.

Gold prices today are still over $900 per ounce for gold bullion prices.  Looking more closely, we’re on another rise right now in March with both 9-day and 18-day average means on the rise.  Current gold prices are likely to keep rising, by most market analysists’ opinion, for the forseeable future.

Overall, of course, gold bullion prices are generally rising over time at all times.  At least when compared to the fiat currencies of today’s economies.  Looking at gold bullion prices ten years ago, we can see that current gold prices are much higher.  In 1998, for example, the year closed with gold bullion prices at just under the $300 mark (per ounce) while gold prices today are working close to the $950 mark (per ounce).

All three trends for long term gold bullion prices–daily, 100-day, and 200 day mean averages–are on the rise. This steady increase is what makes gold investments so appealing to so many investors.

Of course, gold prices change daily, so the gold price quoted here might not be the gold prices today when you’re reading this.  Check current gold prices, market trends for the short term, and so forth before making any investment decision.