Throughout history, gold has always been recognised as a valuable asset. Some of the earliest records describe gold as being desired, both as an art form but also as a form of currency. Since gold coins were first struck in around 550 BC, they formed an important foundation to our monetary system. However, treasures containing gold have been discovered which date back from as early as 4000 BC. This means the relevance of this asset has been linked to power and wealth for a considerable time. Even when countries moved away from gold coins and into the convenience of paper money, the ‘gold standard’ meant that this paper currency still retained an important link to gold.

The very nature of what makes gold precious is the rarity and scarcity of the metal, something which has continued to fascinate people to this day. But just how rare is gold? Consider this, gold is so rare that the world produces more steel in an hour than it has poured gold since the beginning of recorded history!

It also has many uses. Over half of the gold used today is used for jewellery and around 25% is used for coins and bars, but it also plays an important role in industry. Technology is a big driver for gold demand, and alongside other precious metals, it’s used in everything from smartphones to electric cars.

However, in a digital age where there are a multitude of ways to invest your money, why does gold still remain an important foundation in the portfolio of any savvy investor?

Why Invest in Gold?

Although people will have their own reasons to invest in gold, for many, gold investment is about preserving and protecting their wealth.

In terms of wealth preservation, around £200 would have bought you an ounce of gold towards the end of 1990. If you had bought an ounce of gold, and kept £200 as cash, the gold would now be worth around 650% more. However, the cash would not have increased in value and, due to inflation, would actually be worth less.

Similarly, many choose gold to protect the rest of their portfolio from risk and to add diversity to their portfolio. Very few people would choose to invest all their money in gold as it is always advisable to create a balanced portfolio containing different types of investments. Many investors choose gold for that very reason, allowing them to diversify into different areas. This is said to be because the price of gold is usually negatively correlated to the stock markets; gold often risies when other markets fall. This is why, traditionally, gold is seen as a ‘safe-haven’ investment. In times of market volatility, where stocks and shares plummet, part of this decrease is due to investors moving away from ‘riskier’ assets into the safe haven of gold.

Lastly, some investors choose gold because of the possible financial returns, especially over a longer period of time. Put simply, if you buy it and hold it until the price goes up, you can sell it – hopefully for a profit.