Is gold the best investment return pick for 2021? : There are both advantages and disadvantages to every investment. If you are opposed to holding physical gold, buying shares in a gold mining company may be a safer alternative. If you believe gold could be a safe bet against inflation, investing in coins, bullion, or jewelry are paths that you can take to gold-based prosperity. Lastly, if your primary interest is in using leverage to profit from rising gold prices, the futures market might be your answer, but note that there is a fair amount of risk associated with any leverage-based holdings. (For related reading, see “Has Gold Been a Good Investment Over the Long Term?”).

Return rates of physical gold are never profitable if you invest in the gold jewellery. The reason being that the price of jewellery is not only determined by the gold rates but it also includes the making charges and this is the just the half story i.e. when you purchase the gold. Now, when you sell the gold, the story is totally different, the making charges are not considered and you get the money only for the pure gold based on the gold rates of that particular day. Take for example; the gold rate in Mumbai during December 2015 was 27000 Indian rupees for ten grams of 24 karat gold and assuming that you bought a gold necklace of 20 grams for about 60,000 Indian rupees which include the making charges too. Now, due to some reason you want to sell it and you go to a shop who quotes the price only for the gold that necklace contains and not for the stones it has or the copper which weighs it down to only 13grams and the cost of 13 grams of pure gold in 2020 is only 40000 Indian rupees in 2020, obviously, it is a loss deal for you and thus, poor return rates are one of the downsides to keep in mind while investing in physical gold.

“As gold keeps breaking new records…the fundamental factors behind the trend remain clear: increased worries about the solidness of U.S. public finances; the lack of any serious government plan to resolve long standing issues related to the future of the social security system; eroding credibility of the U.S. motto about a strong dollar; the general weakness in the fundamentals of the global economy” [all of which make the] purchasing of gold…a store of value that thrives when uncertainty, insecurity, and fear rule the global economy. Furthermore, when we recall the never ending speculations about the U.S. dollar’s demise, it is only natural that the metal will find attention regardless of the price tag, until a bubble develops [but] we are apparently very far from that turning point.

The idea that gold preserves wealth is even more important in an economic environment where investors are faced with a declining U.S. dollar and rising inflation. Historically, gold has served as a hedge against both of these scenarios. With rising inflation, gold typically appreciates. When investors realize that their money is losing value, they will start positioning their investments in a hard asset that has traditionally maintained its value. The 1970s present a prime example of rising gold prices in the midst of rising inflation. The reason gold benefits from a declining U.S. dollar is because gold is priced in U.S. dollars globally. There are two reasons for this relationship. First, investors who are looking at buying gold (i.e., central banks) must sell their U.S. dollars to make this transaction. This ultimately drives the U.S. dollar lower as global investors seek to diversify out of the dollar. The second reason has to do with the fact that a weakening dollar makes gold cheaper for investors who hold other currencies. This results in greater demand from investors who hold currencies that have appreciated relative to the U.S. dollar. Discover more details on investing in gold.

Much of the supply of gold in the market since the 1990s has come from sales of gold bullion from the vaults of global central banks. This selling by global central banks slowed greatly in 2008. At the same time, production of new gold from mines had been declining since 2000. According to BullionVault.com, annual gold-mining output fell from 2,573 metric tons in 2000 to 2,444 metric tons in 2007 (however, according to Goldsheetlinks.com, gold saw a rebound in production with output hitting nearly 2,700 metric tons in 2011.) It can take from five to 10 years to bring a new mine into production. As a general rule, reduction in the supply of gold increases gold prices.

Many new investors shy away from gold, as it doesn’t generate consistent cash flow in the way real estate or stocks might. What many people don’t know is that gold is actually highly liquid; meaning, it can be bought and sold relatively quickly due to the high demand. When it comes to other alternative investments, like collectibles or rare art, this benefit can make gold a highly attractive opportunity. Gold bullion refers to any form of pure gold, with the most common example being gold bars. Gold bars must be certified for weight and purity, and will typically have a serial number attached for security reasons. Gold bars can vary in size, and it doesn’t take much to be considered valuable. There are a few drawbacks to purchasing gold bullion, as you will typically want a secure location and insurance to secure the investment. Additionally, gold bullion can be a difficult asset to buy and sell as you have to identify buyers ready to purchase in whatever sized bar you have the asset in. That being said, many investors find this method to be a highly rewarding way to purchase gold.