The Signature Select Enhanced Gold Income Fund offers investors a combination of gold exposure and enhanced income generation, the firm said in a statement. Through investments in gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and a covered call strategy, the fund aims to deliver regular income while maintaining participation in the long-term appreciation potential of gold. Gold, a well-regarded alternative asset known for its low correlation with traditional asset classes, can help diversify portfolios and provide resilience during periods of geopolitical, monetary and market uncertainty.

A number of investment managers, like , have been tapping into the yellow metal recently, as investor demand strengthens and emerging market central banks continue to increase reserves.

AllianzGI’s global multi asset team will be responsible for the options selection and the day-to-day management of the portfolio. The fund is available to accredited and professional investors across Standard Chartered’s Priority, Priority Private and Private Banking segments in Hong Kong, Singapore, the UAE, Jersey, Kenya and Nigeria from this month, with Taiwan to follow later this year.

“As clients seek greater diversification amid an increasingly uncertain market environment, the fund provides access to a differentiated strategy that combines gold’s portfolio diversification benefits with enhanced income potential,” Sumeet Bhambri, global head, advisory and managed investments, wealth solutions, Standard Chartered, said. “The launch reflects our commitment to enhancing our wealth platform through strategic partnerships and delivering innovative solutions that support clients on their wealth journey, while reinforcing Standard Chartered’s position as a leading international wealth manager.”

“We believe gold can play an important role as a long-term allocation within a well-diversified portfolio. The fund is designed to participate in gold’s long-term value proposition and generate income through an active options strategy,” Marc Gualandi, head of global banks, Allianz Global Investors, said.

Standard Chartered set up its VCC platform in June 2024 to harness synergies between the industry’s leading fund managers and the bank’s team of global asset class specialists, delivering hard-to-access, custom-curated investment strategies exclusively to the bank’s clients and reinforcing its commitment to enhancing wealth solutions through strategic partnerships.