Get Your 1/4 Acre Gold Price Today
- The price for gold, like all precious metals, can vary significantly by geographic location.
- For example, at the time of writing, the price of gold was $1,839.30 per ounce in London, which was 17.4% higher than the price of gold in the U.S., which was $1,620.20 per ounce.
- The gold spot price, which is the price at which an asset can be sold for immediate payment, is the basis for the price of gold.
The price of gold has been very volatile in recent years. While the price of gold has been rising, it has fallen dramatically at times.
In 2018, the price of gold rose more than 25 percent by August, but declined almost 20 percent by September. In 2019, the price of gold fell more than 10 percent in April, but rose almost 3 percent in May.
Prices for gold can vary significantly by location. For example, at the time of writing, the price of gold was $1,839.30 per ounce in London, which was 17.4% higher than the price of gold in the U.S., which was $1,620.20 per ounce.
How to Buy Gold
Gold is considered a safe haven asset and is often purchased to protect against market volatility. Even in times of financial instability, gold is often viewed as a stable investment.
Gold is typically purchased as a hedge against inflation. When inflation rises, gold prices tend to rise along with it. As a result, gold is considered a hedge against inflation.
Gold is also bought as a hedge against currency depreciation. When currency values fall, gold prices tend to rise.
Gold is also bought as a hedge against market uncertainty. Investors who are concerned about market crashes will often purchase gold to protect against future market uncertainty.
Is Gold Worth Buying?
As you can see from the chart above, gold has been trading sideways for several months. It reached a high of about $1,582.50 in June, and has since retreated. This period of sideways trading has led many investors to wonder, is gold worth buying right now?
One school of thought is that gold is a decent buy now because, as we've discussed, it's priced in a deflationary environment. That means its price should rise as the economy gains steam.
However, another school of thought is that gold's price has been going nowhere as the economy is improving, and that may mean its long-term outlook is bearish.
How to Invest in Gold
If you're looking to invest in gold, you'll find a host of opportunities to do so. Gold bullion can be purchased from dealers, however, investors can also invest in stocks that mine, produce, refine, or distribute gold.
The two primary forms of gold investments are physical gold and paper gold. Physical gold refers to gold bullion. The bullion is minted into bars, coins, and ingots, and is available to purchase and possess.
Paper gold, on the other hand, is a financial asset that represents ownership of physical gold. The two main forms of paper gold are exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and certificates for gold.
Gold Investment Strategies
With the stock and bond markets so volatile and uncertain, investors are looking for safe places to invest their money. Gold is the most common safe-haven asset. Investors have flocked to gold in recent years, and that rush has increased the demand for gold.
Since 2001, the price of an ounce of gold has increased by approximately 590%. The gold price rose another 28% in 2012.
How to Trade Gold
Gold is a favorite of traders and investors, as it is considered a safe haven asset. When investors get nervous, they flock to gold. Gold prices are impacted by multiple factors, but the most important are demand, supply, and inflation.
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The Bottom Line
Supply and demand are the basic ingredients of a free market economy. While most people think of supply in terms of the amount of goods and services available, demand is equally important and is often the most misunderstood. The demand for gold is driven not only by investors, but by industrial uses, jewelry, and central banks.