Global gold ETFs experienced net inflows of $5.3 billion in February, according to the World Gold Council, marking the ninth consecutive month of inflows and the strongest start to the year on record. This surge pushed global gold assets under management (AUM) to a record high of $701 billion, with total holdings reaching 4,171 tons. The inflows were primarily driven by North America and Asia, while Europe saw outflows early in the month due to a sell-off in late January. Despite a decline in global daily trading volume to $478 billion, it remains significantly higher than 2025 levels, reflecting continued investor interest amid rising gold prices and inflated valuations.