Stock market volatility has given investors gold fever. If you chase the rally, don’t overdo it.
Gold, which did little except glitter for most of the past five years, has seen price gains this year that rival Standard & Poor’s 500stock index. Gold began the year at $ 1,279 an ounce, and it is currently trading at $1,498, a 17.1% gain. The S&P 500 is up just a shade more. (Returns and other data are through August 9.)
Gold is trading at its highest price since April 2013. The price could continue to rise if stock market volatility and global growth concerns persist, says Wells Fargo strategist John LaForge. Or it might need to rest before rising again. Nonetheless, says Joe Foster, portfolio manager at the VanEck funds, “If a recession is on the horizon, then gold could hit new highs.”
If you’re thinking of chasing the rally in gold, be sure you’re buying for the right reasons. Speculators in gold are often disappointed, but the metal does have some uses, in small amounts, as a portfolio diversifier, an inflation hedge and insurance against financial catastrophe.
Gold has been used as money since King Croesus of Lydia minted the first gold coins in the sixth century B.C. But no country makes gold coins for circulation anymore. Although jewelry is now the primary use for the metal, investor demand is what drives the price of gold, and fear is what drives investor demand—fear of inflation, war, a government coup or some apocalyptic event.
You don’t need a catastrophe for gold to rise in price. Gold rose from $712 per ounce in October 2008 to more than $1,800 an ounce in August 2011 as the U.S. reeled and recovered from the largest recession—and bear market in stocks— since the Great Depression.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 2019-Ausgabe von Kiplinger's Personal Finance.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der October 2019-Ausgabe von Kiplinger's Personal Finance.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Your Vacation Home Could Provide Tax-free Income
If you plan to rent out your vacation home, it's important to understand how your proceeds will be taxed.
A SOLID YEAR FOR THE KIPLINGER 25
All but one of our favorite actively managed, no-load mutual funds gained ground as markets recovered.
IT'S NOT YOUR IMAGINATION: YOUR CEREAL BOX IS SHRINKING
To avoid raising prices, some manufacturers are reducing the size of common grocery items. Here’s how to fight back.
SHOULD YOU WORRY ABOUT BEING LAID OFF? IT DEPENDS ON YOUR INDUSTRY
Downsizing has hit certain sectors. But cutbacks may be slowing, and some companies are expanding.
How identity thieves are exploiting your trust
Con artists themselves are disguising as well-known brands to steal your money and personal information.
CUT THE COST OF YOUR WIRELESS BILL
AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon dominate the market, but smaller outfits offer similar network coverage at lower prices.
MAKING HOME ENERGY MORE AFFORDABLE
Households in need can get energy-efficiency upgrades, help with utility bills and more from this nonprofit.
A HEAD START FOR SAVERS
The Saver's Credit is designed to help low- and middleincome taxpayers contribute to a retirement account.
Say I Love You With a Money Date
To nurture a lasting bond with your partner, meet regularly to talk about money.
Plan for Your Own Elder Care
AFTER I wrote a series of columns in 2022 about elder care planning for family members, I received a number of responses like this one: “What about married couples who have no children or whose family members don’t live nearby?” wrote one reader. “Or a single individual with no close relatives? How should these people plan for their own elder care?”