Global exchange-traded fund provider iShares has resumed the creation of new shares in its iShares Gold ETF (NYSE: IAU) following a temporary suspension on 4 March 2016 due to an exhaustion of registered shares at that point. 

As of 9 March 2016, the price of gold is $1257.47 an ounce, representing an 18.5% increase in value since the start of the year.

The trust behind the ETF has since successfully registered new shares with the Securities & Exchange Commission to accommodate future creations in the primary market.

Despite the halting of creation activity, trading remained orderly during the suspension period – investors were still able to transact in the ETF on stock exchanges and authorized participants were able to continue to redeem shares during the suspension, though none requested to do so.

Gold has been one of the strongest performing assets in 2016 boosted by a surge in demand for safe-haven assets following a spike to global market volatility.

The price of the yellow metal is $1257.47 an ounce (as of 9 March 2016), representing an 18.5% increase from gold’s beginning-of-year price of $1061.30.