Is Gold the Safest Investment Instrument? How to Invest in Gold?

Investor candidates who want to 'make more profit, earn income by investing money' start to research investment instruments.

Markets Desk·August 4, 2022

Investor candidates who want to 'make more profit, earn income by investing money' start to research investment instruments. The first step of this research reveals the question "What are the investment instruments?". In this article, we share with you the answers to curious questions such as 'the safest investment instrument, the safest investment instrument 2022, the safest investment instrument 2023'.

What was the safest investment instrument in 2022?

Looking at precious metals, In the twelve months to the beginning of August 2022, when this article was written, the dollar-TL exchange rate had appreciated by 102% and the euro-TL rate by 87%. In gold, this increase was realized at the level of 126% and made its investors smile a lot.

An archived forecast: what one columnist expected for the years up to 2023

The passage below is an archived forecast, not current guidance. Bigpara columnist Eral Karayazıcı wrote it no later than 2018 — the text itself forecasts USD levels for 2018 and 2019 — and every horizon it names has since passed. It is reproduced as a record of what was expected at the time, not as a view on today's market. "The USD has a chance to appreciate in the next 12-18 months. I think it is not wrong to see the US currency as a financial option for this term. However, it should be kept in mind that all FX-based options (including the euro and gold) are as much as twenty percent more expensive in Turkey compared to other countries, so there are implicit risks in every maturity. A significant segment of individual savers sees foreign exchange as a long-term investment option. I must admit that I have written today's article especially for this group. By the time the year 2022 or 2023 rolls around, if we as a country do not have any new unpleasant memories, I am of the opinion that the Turkish Lira may have closed the 20% real difference and may even make an additional 10-15% premium. Let me explain this; USD may test 3.90 or even 3.98 in 2018. In 2019, it may see a level of 4.25, maybe 4.50. However, I think that both the limited premium that it can record in the next 1-2 years and the real return it has provided in the past five years may start to lose after 2019 and that it is possible that the dollar will hover around 3.80 euros 4.65 and gram gold around 162 TL in 4-5 years.

For this reason, I find short- or medium-term strategies more rational than long-term strategies in foreign currency-denominated assets. Assuming that the cumulative inflation for the next five years will be 40% (average annual inflation of 7.2%), the reference price for USDTL for 2023 will be 5.1 for EURTL 6.30 for gram gold 227 TL. However, I think that this is unlikely to happen, but rather the risk that the value of these three heads in 2023 will be close to their current prices should be added to the scenario analysis as one of the options. The situation is different in the stock market. I believe that 2018 will be predominantly flat. In 2019, even if we witness the index falling to 93,000 points (maybe even lower), I think it is quite possible for the BIST 100 index to reach 200,000 points in 2023.'' The investment information, comments and recommendations in this article do not constitute investment advice. Investment advisory services are provided individually, taking into account the risk and return preferences of individuals. The content contained herein is in no way directive and the recommendations are of a general nature. These recommendations may not be suitable for your financial situation and risk and return preferences. Therefore, making an investment decision based solely on the information contained herein may not produce results in accordance with your expectations.

Continue in the iEconomy Academy: Treasury securities, Bitcoin. Terms used in this lesson: Exchange-Traded Fund, Foreign Exchange.

Frequently asked questions

Is gold considered a safe-haven investment?

Gold is widely described as a safe-haven asset, particularly during periods of economic uncertainty or market volatility, as its value has historically been less correlated with traditional financial markets. Investors often turn to gold as a store of value when seeking to preserve capital.

How did gold's performance compare to currencies like the US Dollar in recent years?

In the twelve months to August 2022, the comparison this article cites, gold's value increased significantly more than major currency pairs like the USD/TRY. That is a single, dated window and not a general rule: such comparisons are specific to the timeframe and economic conditions in which they were measured.

What are the common ways to invest in gold?

Common methods for investing in gold include purchasing physical gold (like bars or coins), buying shares in gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs), or investing in gold mining company stocks. Each method carries different considerations regarding liquidity, storage, and exposure to the gold price.

What factors influence whether gold is a 'safe' investment?

The safety of gold as an investment depends on factors like inflation rates, real interest rates, global economic stability, and currency fluctuations. Its role as a portfolio diversifier is often emphasized, but its price can still experience volatility based on these macroeconomic conditions.

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