The Mystery and Wonder of Gold Prices
As an alloy, gold content is measured in carats. Pure gold is 24k. Gold is always considered the most desirable precious metal, even as the prices of certain platinum group metals have been higher. Gold prices are constantly changing, which keeps investors checking the price every morning. Despite this level of speculation, gold continues to be the most popular investment among precious metals. Over the short to medium-term, gold is likely to be buffeted by conflicting cross-currents as we will see in time, so it is important to keep a handle on the big picture. For this reason we should remind ourselves how bullish the big picture is for gold. We see that gold is in the late stages of a large Head-and-Shoulders bottom, which it is expected to break out of not far into 2018. This is a huge base pattern that can support a major bull market.
For centuries, gold has been a mysterious symbol of value and wealth. These intricacies about gold prices and what makes this precious metal sought after by so many people around the world today can be discovered with a few simple online searches.
Discover the Basic Truth about Silver Prices
It is easy to understand the universal appeal of silver. Beginner and expert investors around the world choose silver more than any other precious metal. Experienced investors recognize silver has value as both an investment and monetary metal. The price of silver per ounce is lower than gold, making it accessible for beginners with a limited budget.
It is estimated silver coins could be the oldest mass-produced form of coinage. Collectible coins range in value based on the demand, condition, and rarity. Silver coins have been used as currency around the world. Silver bullion coins and bars, as well as silver paper, are a solid investment, regardless of inflation.
Currently, silver is significantly undervalued versus gold on a historical basis. Throughout most of time, it took 15 to 30 ounce of silver to purchase one ounce of gold. In recent years, that ratio has ranged between 40:1 and 70:1. So as the bull market in silver resumes, we expect this white metal to vastly outperform gold and return possibly by four-fold or more.
The value of currency fluctuates based on each government market. Silver is an international way to store value. Any investment conversation will usually focus on the unpredictability of currency and stocks. For this reason, people continue to invest in precious metals such as silver, gold, platinum, and palladium.
Gold and Silver At Its Best
Physical gold serves at least four important investment objectives:
- First, it provides a form of financial insurance should unforeseen economic or political events diminish the value or liquidity of your ordinary equity, fixed income, or real estate assets. This alone is sufficient reason to allocate up to 10% of one’s investments and savings to physical gold. And, just like life insurance, your homeowners insurance, your health insurance and your auto insurance, you’re happiest never collecting.
- Second, gold is the preeminent inflation hedge, offering protection against excessive monetary creation, future inflation at home and U.S. dollar devaluation in world currency markets.
- Third, it is a unique portfolio diversifier. Even though the price of gold may be, at times, quite volatile, because its price movements tend to be uncorrelated with the ups and downs in other asset prices, it reduces the volatility and price risk in one’s overall investment portfolio. In other words, a portfolio including gold is over time less volatile than the same portfolio excluding gold.
- Fourth, gold’s supply/demand fundamentals – especially expected growth in both jewelry and investment demand from China and India as well as increasing central-bank reserve accumulation – suggest its price will move sharply higher in the next three-to-five years – and is likely to continue outperforming most other investments, much as it has over the past decade.
Silver has an edge as an investment tool. The following are some of the contributing factors that
enable silver as an investment to stand out.
- The element property of silver adds value by giving it more industrial applications
- It’s been in existence for thousands of years as a currency and medium of exchange
- The supply and demand categories for silver contribute to its unique characteristics
Bottomline
When people invest in gold or in silver,they are thinking firmly about their future and are setting long-term financial goals. According to Forbes, “buying metals represents a safe haven-approach to diversification,” and they can act as hedge against future uncertainties.
For the same reason people buy any asset they don’t plan on using: They hope the price will go up and that they can sell it. People buy precious materials when they believe most other assets are going to fluctuate.
The conclusion is that gold is building up to break out of its giant Head-and-Shoulders bottom to enter a major bull market phase. People have their own perception when it comes to investments-which is more efficient, which is more affordable, and which performs better. With this, speculation of the rising and fluctuating factors of gold and silver is the mentality purchasers have.