Stock Traders Purchase Large Volume of iShares Gold Trust Call Options (NYSEARCA:IAU)

iShares Gold Trust (NYSEARCA:IAU) was the target of some unusual options trading on Friday. Investors bought 21,107 call options on the company. This is an increase of approximately 687% compared to the average daily volume of 2,681 call options.

iShares Gold Trust Trading Up 0.2 %

IAU stock traded up $0.11 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $52.87. The stock had a trading volume of 6,713,643 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,322,608. iShares Gold Trust has a 52-week low of $37.53 and a 52-week high of $53.18. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $50.35 and its 200 day simple moving average is $49.15.

Institutional Trading of iShares Gold Trust

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. TCP Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of iShares Gold Trust by 3.0% during the third quarter. TCP Asset Management LLC now owns 6,672 shares of the exchange traded fund’s stock valued at $332,000 after acquiring an additional 195 shares during the last quarter. Quadrant Private Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of iShares Gold Trust by 2.3% during the fourth quarter. Quadrant Private Wealth Management LLC now owns 8,596 shares of the exchange traded fund’s stock worth $426,000 after buying an additional 195 shares during the period. Riggs Asset Managment Co. Inc. grew its position in iShares Gold Trust by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Riggs Asset Managment Co. Inc. now owns 17,269 shares of the exchange traded fund’s stock valued at $850,000 after acquiring an additional 212 shares in the last quarter. Baker Avenue Asset Management LP grew its holdings in shares of iShares Gold Trust by 2.9% in the third quarter. Baker Avenue Asset Management LP now owns 7,517 shares of the exchange traded fund’s stock valued at $374,000 after purchasing an additional 215 shares in the last quarter. Finally, SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in iShares Gold Trust by 2.7% during the 4th quarter. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC now owns 8,287 shares of the exchange traded fund’s stock worth $410,000 after purchasing an additional 215 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 59.67% of the company’s stock.

iShares Gold Trust Company Profile

iShares Gold Trust (the Trust) is to own gold transferred to the Trust in exchange for shares issued by the Trust (Shares). Each Share represents a fractional undivided beneficial interest in the net assets of the Trust. The assets of the Trust consist of gold held by the Trust’s custodian on behalf of the Trust.