There are lots of gold assets to choose from, but certain options could make more sense now that inflation is increasing.
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Inflation is no longer hovering near 40-year highs like it was in mid-2022, but we’re not back to normal just yet. The latest inflation report, released this week, shows that the inflation rate was 3.2% in February, up from 3.1% in January. Given the negative impact that stubborn inflation has on traditional currency, many investors are now looking for ways to protect their investments from being eroded by rising prices. And, one traditional hedge against inflation is gold.
When inflation rises, the purchasing power of paper currencies inevitably declines. That makes gold, which carries no counterparty risk and cannot be inflated by central banks, an attractive investment for investors who want to preserve their wealth. If you’re looking to add some gold exposure to your portfolio as an inflation hedge, though, it’s important to understand that there are numerous assets to choose from.
The downside is you’ll need to securely store and insure your gold holdings, which can come with extra work and extra costs. But if you’re seeking a “crisis commodity” to fall back on, physical bullion is about as close as you can get to having intrinsic, universally recognized wealth.
Gold ETFs can be a smart option to consider because they provide exposure to gold prices without the hassle of personally acquiring and storing bullion. They can easily be bought and sold just like stocks through any brokerage account. However, there are small annual expenses charged by the funds, which you may want to consider before taking this route.
Gold mining stocks
Rather than invest directly in gold itself, you can gain leveraged upside exposure by buying shares of gold mining companies. When gold prices rise, the profits and stock valuations of the miners tend to surge even higher. You also have the option of investing in gold mining ETFs to gain broad exposure.
The allure of buying gold stocks is the potential for higher returns, which is great in any economic environment, but can be especially useful during times when inflation is devaluing the dollar. However, these stocks also come with higher risk than just owning physical gold or a bullion ETF, so keep that in mind as you narrow down the options.
Gold jewelry and collectibles
Beyond strictly investment purposes, gold jewelry and collectible gold coins can appreciate in value as inflation rises. While these purchases don’t provide direct exposure to gold prices, the precious metal content gives them an intrinsic material value that helps preserve wealth over time.
And, with inflation weighing on other assets, collectors tend to bid up the valuations for rare, historical gold coins in particular. These types of gold investments can grow in numismatic value alongside the underlying metal prices, providing a unique potential return stream.
Gold futures and options
For advanced traders and hedgers, gold futures contracts provide a way to speculate on future price movements or lock in current prices. However, due to the complexity, leverage and risk of losses that are associated with gold futures and options (beyond the initial investment), this gold investing option tends to be most suitable for highly experienced, risk-tolerant traders looking to make leveraged bets on gold prices.
The bottom line
As always with any type of investing, it’s important to understand your time horizon, risk tolerance and objectives before allocating capital to gold. After all, there is a wide range of gold investments to choose from, and those factors will play a role in determining which one works best for you, especially during periods of high inflation. But no matter what gold asset you decide on, when used judiciously, gold can be an important part of a diversified portfolio, providing a hedge against the insidious effects of inflation.
Angelica Leicht is senior editor for CBS’ Moneywatch: Managing Your Money, where she writes and edits articles on a range of personal finance topics. Angelica previously held editing roles at The Simple Dollar, Interest, HousingWire and other financial publications.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 100 points in late-morning trading, helped by strength in base metal and utility stocks, while U.S. stock markets were mixed.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 103.40 points at 24,542.48.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 192.31 points at 42,932.73. The S&P 500 index was up 7.14 points at 5,822.40, while the Nasdaq composite was down 9.03 points at 18,306.56.
The Canadian dollar traded for 72.61 cents US compared with 72.44 cents US on Tuesday.
The November crude oil contract was down 71 cents at US$69.87 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was down eight cents at US$2.42 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$7.20 at US$2,686.10 an ounce and the December copper contract was up a penny at US$4.35 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2024.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 200 points in late-morning trading, while U.S. stock markets were also headed higher.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 205.86 points at 24,508.12.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 336.62 points at 42,790.74. The S&P 500 index was up 34.19 points at 5,814.24, while the Nasdaq composite was up 60.27 points at 18.342.32.
The Canadian dollar traded for 72.61 cents US compared with 72.71 cents US on Thursday.
The November crude oil contract was down 15 cents at US$75.70 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was down two cents at US$2.65 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was down US$29.60 at US$2,668.90 an ounce and the December copper contract was up four cents at US$4.47 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 11, 2024.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was little changed in late-morning trading as the financial sector fell, but energy and base metal stocks moved higher.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 0.05 of a point at 24,224.95.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 94.31 points at 42,417.69. The S&P 500 index was down 10.91 points at 5,781.13, while the Nasdaq composite was down 29.59 points at 18,262.03.
The Canadian dollar traded for 72.71 cents US compared with 73.05 cents US on Wednesday.
The November crude oil contract was up US$1.69 at US$74.93 per barrel and the November natural gas contract was up a penny at US$2.67 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$14.70 at US$2,640.70 an ounce and the December copper contract was up two cents at US$4.42 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 10, 2024.
