Is gold becoming a golden investment opportunity?

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Is gold becoming a golden investment opportunity?

Gold prices in the fourth quarter of 2019 in US Dollar terms were the highest average price since the first quarter of 2013. Nevertheless, in various other currencies, it hit the highest level in history.

In the year 2019, the prices of gold on an average increased by 13 per cent on yearly basis. However, most of the increase was observed in the second half of 2019 while, the first part of 2019, remained quite benign in terms of the price movement of gold. The graph below clearly shows how the price of gold has moved up from mid-June 2019. It was hovering around Rs 3,000 per gram in June and is now at Rs 3,800 per gram.


This price movement had expected repercussions on the demand of gold. According to the data released by World Gold Council, the jewellery demand, which forms 48 per cent of the total gold demand, is down by six per cent on yearly basis for 2019. In the same period, the demand for investment has increased by nine per cent and for ETF products, it has quadrupled.

 

2018

2019

Change

Year-on-year % change

Total Gold demand

4,400.96

4,355.67

-1%

Jewellery

2,240.19

2,107.04

-6%

Technology

334.79

326.62

-2%

Investment

1,169.76

1,271.70

9%

Total bar and coin

1,093.57

870.64

-20%

ETFs and similar products

76.19

401.06

426%

Central banks & other inst.

656.23

650.32

-1%

Source: Metals Focus, World Gold Council

 

 

 

 

 

Future Outlook

Besides the normal demand and supply what also impacts the gold prices is strength or weakness of US Dollar. What also guides the gold prices is economic crisis when it is considered as safe haven. Looking at the government’s effort to keep lid on bond yields and accelerated quantitative easing, the gold prices will have limited scope to repeat its 2019 performance.