Investing in gold & silver has long been a go-to strategy for riding out uncertain markets for good reason. Gold is historically seen as a solid defensive asset during economic downturns, while silver continues to be valued by heavy industry demands.
For savvy investors, it's no surprise that Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) have become the easiest & most accessible way to invest in both. Bought via a brokerage account, they offer the needed long-term exposure without having to figure out where to keep stacks of bullion in your HDB.
Yet gold & silver today don't behave like the "slow & steady" assets many remember. Prices now react quickly to fast-moving geopolitical developments around the world; sometimes within hours.
That raises a question: if precious metals are moving differently than before, should the way we invest also evolve?
[ms-toc title="Only Buying Gold / Silver ETFs? It May Be Time to Expand Your Trading Toolkit with DLCs"]
Gold/ Silver ETFs are a great start. Are they enough in 2026?
If your goal is simply to gain exposure without the hassle of logistics/ paying for insurance, ETFs remain among the most practical options available.
Products such as the U.S.-listed SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) & iShares Silver Trust (SLV) offer relatively low entry costs, high liquidity & a convenient way to participate in precious metals markets, all via the brokerage account you already use.
Why your current strategy needs a refresh
That said, today's market isn't following the same playbook. The days of buying, holding & waiting for the next rally are becoming less predictable.
After a record-breaking rally of around 65% just last year, gold has begun losing momentum as inflation concerns, renewed tensions in the Middle East & shifting Fed rate expectations continue to keep us guessing.
Recently, bullion fell as much as 2.85% to around US$4,010 an ounce as concerns that persistent inflation could keep U.S. interest rates higher for longer outweighed gold's traditional safe-haven appeal. Silver has proven just as volatile, recording a 36% decline in January before swinging from a 7% gain to a 9% loss within just days in May.
With strong long-term demand from silver-intensive industries like electronics & solar energy, precious metals are increasingly reacting to inflation, geopolitical developments & investor sentiment, rather than moving in the steady, predictable way we once expected.
Start with your investment objectives
As markets evolve, so do the ways we choose to navigate them.
Naturally, investors don't all respond to these conditions in the same way. While some continue building long-term positions via ETFs, others may want to act on shorter-term opportunities or protect existing holdings. You may relate to one of these situations:
For Raymond, the Tactical Trader
He expects gold prices to rise after a softer-than-expected U.S. inflation report & wants to position for a potential rally on the news.
While a Gold ETF can capture the upside over time, he’s looking to magnify his exposure to capture such short-term/event driven opportunities.
For Priya, the Proactive Portfolio Protector
She already holds precious metals as part of her investment portfolio.
Yet with a Federal Reserve meeting around the corner, she expects higher volatility & wants to hedge her position. Holding her investment doesn't help reduce the impact of a potential pullback.
Although their goals differ, both are looking for greater flexibility than a traditional buy-and-hold approach—whether that's acting on a market view or cushioning portfolios against short-term volatility.
A new response to market moves: Gold & Silver DLCs
Here’s where Leveraged & Inverse (L&I) Exchange-Traded Products (ETPs), like Societe Generale’s Gold & Silver Daily Leverage Certificates (DLCs), may come in handy.
As SGX's first Gold & Silver leveraged & inverse products, they track the daily percentage performance of the SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) & iShares Silver Trust (SLV) with a fixed leverage of 5x/-5x for GLD and 3x/-3x for SLV, allowing you to express both Long & Short views on these precious metals.
Here's how they work in practice:
Gold DLCs (5x/-5x leverage)
Silver DLCs (3x/-3x leverage)
*Illustrative examples only. Actual returns may vary after considering costs, fees & other product factors. Refer to the official DLC website for the latest information. (The information is for illustrative purposes only, and is not indicative of future performance. Such information does not constitute or form part of any offer, or invitation, to subscribe for or to sell, or solicitation of any offer to subscribe for or to purchase, the DLCs at the price shown.)
How do DLCs compare with ETFs?
Learning how DLCs work is only part of the picture. It's equally important to know when they may become the better choice.
Here's a quick side-by-side comparison of their key features & typical use cases:
Staying one step ahead of 2026 headlines
The way we see it, factors driving gold & silver markets are unlikely just to disappear anytime soon.
Fed policy remains a key influence, while trade shifts, tariff/ conflict developments continue to keep the markets on their toes. Beyond holding to a physical bullion strategy or ETFs, Gold & Silver L&I ETPs like DLCs offer investors a more suitable way to navigate rapidly changing markets with greater flexibility.
Furthermore, backed by Societe Generale's established SGX offering—spanning 200+ listed DLCs across Singapore, Hong Kong & U.S. equity indices & single stocks, while providing exposure to commodities — you can confidently access a mature marketplace to express views across different scenarios, without having to start from scratch.
Final words
Gold & silver aren’t standing still & neither are the markets around them. While ETFs remain a practical way to build long-term exposure, today’s fast-moving environment calls for a strategy that keeps up with the markets’ ups & downs.
For those looking to take a more active approach, Societe Generale’s Gold & Silver DLCs offer greater flexibility when trading precious metals, allowing you to respond to short-term market movements via a convenient SGX-listed instrument.
As Specified Investment Products (SIPs), however, you should check the eligibility requirements before trading DLCs. Explore how they work, understand the risks & find out whether they’re the right fit for your 2026 trading toolkit.
This post was written in collaboration with Societe Generale. While we are financially compensated by them, we nonetheless strive to maintain our editorial integrity and review products with the same objective lens. We are committed to providing the best information in order for you to make personal financial decisions with confidence.
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