If one thing stands out among Indian investors, it’s our love for Gold as an asset class! Gold is a precious metal that has been highly valued for centuries as an investment. It is one of the few assets that has a history of retaining its value over long periods of time. Gold has long been a favorite of investors and is often seen as a safe-haven asset in times of economic turbulence.
Gold is an attractive investment for a number of reasons. Firstly, gold is a finite resource and its supply is limited, making it a scarce commodity. This means that it is less prone to the forces of supply and demand that can affect other commodities and investments. Gold is also considered to be a relatively stable asset, meaning that its price tends to remain relatively consistent over time. It is also highly liquid, meaning it can be easily converted into cash.
Gold has traditionally been used as an investment to hedge against inflation and financial crisis. As the value of paper currency decreases, gold often retains its value, making it a hedge against inflation. During times of financial crisis, investors often look to gold as an alternative to stocks, bonds, and other volatile investments.
Gold is also seen as a safe-haven asset in times of political and geopolitical uncertainty. Investors often turn to gold as a safe store of value during times of crisis and instability. Gold prices often rise during times of geopolitical tension as investors seek a safe haven for their money.
Gold is also used as a way to diversify an investment portfolio. It is considered to be a relatively low-risk asset due to its stability and lack of correlation to other investment classes. Gold can also be used to offset losses in other investments, providing a hedge against market volatility.
Gold is typically bought in the form of coins, bars, or ETFs. Coins and bars are physical assets that can be held in a safe or a bank vault. ETFs are exchange-traded funds that track the price of gold without having to actually buy the physical asset. ETFs are generally considered to be the most liquid and cost-effective way to invest in gold.
Investing in gold can be an effective way to hedge against economic and geopolitical uncertainty. It is a relatively low-risk asset that can be used to diversify an investment portfolio and provide a hedge against market volatility. Gold can also provide a safe store of value during times of crisis. For these reasons, gold remains a popular investment for many investors.
As an investor, should you be allocating money to gold investments in 2023? Given that recessionary conditions may well intensify globally, and risk aversion may gather steam at some stage, it makes sense to have 10-15% parked into the yellow metal as a hedge. You could stagger your way in over the next 2-3 months instead of investing the entire allocation in one shot though.