Kim, I too am suspicious of these GLD, SLV type ETFs and will only use them occasionally to track the PM pricing in a retirement account. Since I am limited as to what I can do in my retirement account (e.g., cannot hold the actual physical), I liked the closed end funds as you guys all know from my previous posts. While I believe they hold the actual metals in Canada (e.g., would Eric Sprott actually be a cheat? ), you do need to watch the premiums as they can add to or detract from when you buy. For those who might be interested, below is some info as of last nights close which as you can see the premiums can add a bit of a boost to.

I am in Florida for a long weekend visiting friends and since they eye me suspiciously when I am on the computer, I will be out of pocket most likely as those stares are causing my frog eyes to blink uncontrolably. The best to you all today....me too included ....but I won't know until I can scurry off to a corner to sneak a peak when no one is looking! LOL I will miss you!

http://www.sprottphysicalgoldtrust.com/Net-Asset-Value/default.aspx

PHYS premium can be found at link above. PHYS is gold. Note the difference in close price and premium. Close prices below are as of Thursday compared with previous close.

$12.40 w/3.7% prem versus prev. close of $12.57 w/4.8% prem

http://www.sprottphysicalsilvertrust.com/NetAssetValue.aspx

PSLV is silver only and can be found at link above.
$11.35 w/ 5.44% prem vs $10.81 w/ 2.29% prem.

http://www.centralfund.com/Nav%20Form.htm

CEF is 50/50 gold silver and can be found at link above
$19.06 w/ 6.4% vs. $18.42 w/.6% prem

http://www.gold-trust.com/asset_value.htm

GTU gold only and can be found at link above
$53.13 w/1.6% prem vs. $52.50 w/ (1.1%) discount

So you can see how the premiums/discounts can also play into these closed end funds that trade like stocks but also hold the actual metals versus paper derivatives that just track the price of the gold/silver.