Commonly referred to as a safe haven in volatile times.
Discover the importance of this popular precious metal as a financial asset, and learn how to trade gold CFDs with IG.
Commonly referred to as a safe haven in volatile times.
Discover the importance of this popular precious metal as a financial asset, and learn how to trade gold CFDs with IG.
Gold has been the most highly desired of the world’s precious metals since ancient times, coveted for both its cultural and financial value. It was integral to valuation of the world’s currencies well into the 20th century, intrinsically linked to the price of the US dollar until the 1970s.
IG even took its original name – Investors’ Gold – from the metal, when in 1974 it was launched to offer clients the opportunity to trade gold on leverage rather than owning it outright. Trading gold is often popular as a form of insurance, as the metal is considered a safe haven in times of financial turbulence.
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Gold’s price is likely to rise as demand for it increases. Since the 1970s the amount of gold bought annually has quadrupled, thanks to its cultural and financial value across the world, and application in diverse industries ranging from technology to jewellery.
Gold and the US dollar have a complicated, but usually inverse, relationship. When the dollar falls, investors looking for an alternative store of value rush in to buy gold, driving up its price. A falling dollar also increases the value of other currencies, and that greater buying power also increases demand for gold that was previously unaffordable.
Interest rates are another determinant that can influence gold price movements. Since the financial crisis of 2008, the inverse relationship between gold price and interest rates has been particularly strong. Periods of low or negative interest rates are especially positive for gold.
In periods of financial stress and/or political instability, gold is used as a safe-haven investment as it tends to retain its value. Given the considerable uncertainties facing the world economy since 2008, gold has become a popular investment vehicle.
Inflation and interest rates are closely related – a sustained rise in general prices tends to lead to higher interest rates. Gold tends to perform strongly in high-inflation and deflation scenarios where there is a sharp rise in financial stress.
Gold is an asset that investors tend to rely heavily on in times of political or fiscal uncertainty. Unlike a currency, the amount of gold can’t be expanded at will, and unlike a stock, there’s no underlying company that can go out of business. As a result, the metal is often used as a hedging tool against inflation or currency devaluation.
However, when any investment becomes too popular there’s the risk of a price bubble being created, which could send prices spiralling when it bursts. For this reason, many gold traders choose to diversify into other markets.
Like gold, silver is often used as an investment, and the prices of the two metals have been known to move correspondingly. However, silver is far more in demand as an industrial asset than gold, so events in the technology sector – where it’s used for its conductivity – have far more of an effect on its price.
Called gilts in the UK and treasuries elsewhere, bonds are effectively a government IOU promising to pay back a certain level of interest after a set period. They are popular in times of economic crisis because they’re backed by the economy of an entire country – deemed far less likely to go bust than an individual company.
The cryptocurrency holds a similar appeal to gold as a store of value. Its supply is fixed at a set level so, unlike traditional currency and like precious metals, there’s less danger that it could be overproduced and diminish in value as a result. However, Bitcoin lacks the heritage and proven track record of more traditional investment methods like gold.
Gold is a commodity with a truly global reach. It is mined on every continent except for Antarctica, and is shipped all over the planet to be refined and sold. The metal has diverse uses that straddle different industry sectors, from jewellery and technology to its use by central banks.
Mining provides around 75% of the world’s gold supply. However, annual demand requires more gold than is mined – the shortfall is made up from recycling.
No one geographical region dominates gold supply, a contrast to the mid-20th century when the majority of mined gold came from South Africa.
India has a longstanding cultural history involving the importation of gold, usually ranking in the top two of the world’s most gold-consuming countries year on year.
The precious metal has significant cultural importance in India, as it is typically used for jewellery and investment.
Gold is often used as a reserve by central banks, as a guarantee. Demand here has increased since the 2008 financial crisis.
To give you an idea of the change, central banks sold 7853 tonnes of gold between 1987 and 2009; between 2010 and 2016 they bought 3297 tonnes.
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Gold is denominated in dollars, making it susceptible to fluctuations in the currency’s value. The two have an inverse relationship, so when the dollar falls, gold tends to rise. This is because gold is viewed as an ideal way of storing value when the dollar is weak, and is less expensive for other countries to purchase.
You can trade CFDs on gold with IG. Simply set up an account with us in a matter of minutes, log in to our trading platform and take a position on the precious metal.
You don’t need to own cryptocurrencies to trade them
We offer a range of popular and niche commodities
Find out more about trading precious metals other than gold
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