Investing in Precious Metals

Precious metals are rare metals that have high economic value. They're valuable because they're scarce, useful for industrial processes, or have investment properties that make them a good store of value. Notable precious metals include gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. 

Gold is the most well-known and investable precious metal. It's unique for its durability (it doesn't corrode), shaping capability, and ability to conduct heat and electricity. While it has some industrial uses in dentistry and electronics, it's primarily used to make jewelry or as a form of currency. It has long been a store of value. Because of that, investors seek it out during times of economic or political turbulence and as a hedge against rising inflation. 

• Protection of capital from inflation. This is especially true at a time when interest rates in many parts of the world are zero or negative and central banks and governments are increasing the money supply through their stimulus programs.
• Global central banks are able to buy unprecedented amounts of gold and more. In each of the last 10 years (2010-2020), central banks have been net buyers. Demand from major players, such as central banks, can definitely support the price.
• Hedging against multiple economic and political risks such as economic collapse, military and trade conflicts, natural disasters, global pandemic, etc.
• Opportunities for capital gains when the price of the precious metals you have invested in increases.
• Opportunities to diversify a portfolio of assets such as stocks, bonds, bank deposits, etc., due to an inverse or lack of a correlation with these assets.
• High liquidity, which means that you can quickly and easily buy/sell your investment at a low cost (this is important mainly for online investing in gold and precious metals).

Now, investors also have the ability to invest in precious metals according to environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards and values, as companies bring these principles to the forefront and strive towards a greener future.