Perhaps no corner of the ETF market has exploded as rapidly as the precious metals space, as the democratization of an asset class previously off limits to many investors has resulted in billions of dollars in cash inflows. The SPDR Gold Trust (GLD) is now the second-largest ETF by total assets, with more than $53 billion under management. Two other physically-backed gold ETFs (IAU and SGOL) have aggregate assets of nearly $5 billion, while a couple of silver funds (SLV and SIVR) hold another $6 billion. Even the relatively young platinum ETF (PPLT, $485 million) and palladium ETF (PALL, $393 million) have been huge hits with investors. In aggregate these seven physically-backed precious metals ETFs represent about 8% of total ETF assets, a remarkable statistic highlighting the amount of interest in this asset class. Precious metals represent the only corner of the commodity market where exposure to spot prices is [...] Click here to read the original article on ETFdb.com. Related Stories: Beyond GLD: Three Alternative Precious Metal ETFs ETF Securities To Launch Precious Metals ETFs In Japan Mining ETFs: Eight Ways To Play