Standard Chartered has teamed up with Allianz Global Investors to offer investors a new gold-focused investment fund aimed at combining regular income with exposure to the long-term growth potential of gold.

While announcing the launch of the sub-fund under its Variable Capital Company platform, it said the fund is available to accredited and professional investors across Standard Chartered’s multiple platforms.

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.

Speaking on the development, Global Head, Advisory and Managed Investments, Wealth Solutions, Standard Chartered, Sumeet Bhambri, said: “We are pleased to partner with Allianz Global Investors, whose global investment expertise strengthens our latest VCC fund. 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.

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.”

Also speaking, Head of Global Banks, Allianz Global Investors, Marc Gualandi, said: “We are delighted to partner with Standard Chartered to bring the Signature Select Enhanced Gold Income Fund to clients across its international wealth network. 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. Leveraging our expertise in income strategies, portfolio construction and risk management, we seek to help investors pursue both income and long-term portfolio resilience.”

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. This is the Bank’s ninth sub-fund launched to date, and its fourth fund launched in 2026.