eToro Survey Reveals Investor Preference for Gold

eToro survey reveals investor preference for gold as a hedge against a weakening US dollar. Nearly half of the 10,000 investors surveyed plan to adjust their portfolios in response. Gold led the shift, with 29% increasing their exposure. Confidence in US markets declined, while interest in other regions grew. The findings reflect a move toward safer assets amid global economic uncertainty.

Notably, 29% of investors cited investing more in gold as their primary strategy. This was followed by 25% who reduced exposure to US stocks, while 24% increased their holdings in non-US stocks and cryptoassets, respectively. Investor sentiment towards gold remains firmly optimistic, with 57% expecting its price to rise within the next 6 to 12 months. 

Currently, 45% of retail investors already hold gold, and half of them only started investing in it over the last two years. Moreover, 27% of those not currently invested are now considering adding gold to their portfolios, indicating a broad shift in retail investment behavior. 

eToro Survey Reveals Investor Preference for Gold

At the same time, trust in the US as a region with the strongest long-term return potential has weakened. While 45% of investors favored the US in Q4 2024, that number fell to 34% by Q2 2025. Only Gen Z investors maintained similar optimism, with 45% still viewing the US positively, compared to 46% at the end of last year. 

In contrast, optimism for other regions continues to grow. Europe gained favor with 29% of investors, up from 20%, while China saw an increase from 24% to 26%. Sentiment towards emerging markets rose from 17% to 20%, Japan from 12% to 14%, the UK from 8% to 11%, and Australia from 7% to 8%. 

Meanwhile, recession fears have overtaken inflation as the top concern among investors, with 26% citing the global economy as the greatest threat, up from 18% a year ago. Inflation now ranks second at 19%. Commenting on the data, eToro’s Global Market Strategist Lale Akoner said, “Given the magnitude of market fluctuations in early 2025, it’s no surprise investors are increasingly cautious about the global macroeconomic outlook. Ongoing trade uncertainty and turbulence are reshaping how retail investors perceive risk. With shorter investment horizons, older generations feel market instability more acutely, as they have less time to recover from losses.”

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