The price of gold itself is up over 50% from its lows in 1999. Graded gold coins are up 70% in the last three years. Futures and options on gold have soared. Who knows how many thousands of percent you'd have made by investing in gold?
There are many major factors that make gold a great investment right now. Gold coin sale is still cheap, while stocks are expensive. In January of 1980, both the Dow Industrials and the price of gold were at the same level: 800. Now, nearly 24 years later, the Dow is near 10,000, while gold is less than half its January 1980 value. There are some great opportunities in gold stocks.
Governments will make our money worth less to pay off their record debts. Governments can print money to pay off their debts. But they can't create gold. The supply of paper money can be infinite. But the supply of gold is extremely limited (they say that the entire gold production in the history of the world could fit on the basketball court.
Gold should do well in extreme bear markets. Silver more than doubled in value from 1932 to 1936 during the Great Depression (the price of gold was fixed by the government). The next long bear market was 1968-1980. Silver rose from around $2 in 1968 to a peak near $50 in 1980.
Gold stock will rise during inflation... and during deflation. Investing in gold is good inflation protection... gold rises as the value of the dollar falls. As the government lowers interest rates significantly and wildly prints money (creating inflation) to offset that deflation... leading to substantially higher gold prices. This is where we are now, and gold has done what it's supposed to do.
When you buy gold coins, you lower risk in your investment portfolio. In the past, gold has tended to do the opposite of stocks...it skyrocketed in the 1970s, when stocks did horribly. Then in the 1980s and 1990s, when stocks soared, gold lost over half its value. Now in the new millennium gold has soared while stocks are still below their year 2000 highs I consider these to be the best opportunity right now. While gold stocks are up nearly 500%, investment grade gold coin investment (those that carry a grading of Mint State (MS) 63 or higher from the grading agencies PCGS or NGC) are 'only' up 70%. These coins peaked in value in 1989. They subsequently fell by 85%, bottoming in 2001. There is still 100% upside on the table here, and your downside is limited (since you're close to meltdown value).
To own gold directly, you can buy common gold coins or small bars of gold. Common gold coins are known as 'bullion' coins. These include popular coins like Krugerrands or Canadian Maple Leafs, and they cost just a few dollars more than the current price of gold. These don't have extraordinary upside or downside, they simply move with the price of gold.
Are you ready to invest in precious metals? Coins and bars bullions are the choice of any smart investor under the current financial circumstances of world economics. While the paper dollar is still devaluating, your gold investment will only increase in value.Reputable sellers online can provide direct access for your immediate investments in precious metals such as gold bars.
Why Invest In Gold
Let's get right to the point. The recent collapse and bailout of the GSE's, failure of IndyMac Bank, and the sharp rise in the CPI make it more imperative than ever, for you to protect your wealth with gold. I'm going to take a look back at those three financial events and explain why I believe that it's critical that you should buy gold bullion now.
The Failure of IndyMac Bank
On Friday, IndyMac became the largest bank to fail in two decades. On Monday morning, depositors lined up for blocks and waited for hours to withdraw their money from the bank. Unless, of course, their deposits on account, were over the FDIC limit.
At this point, no one knows how long depositors will have to wait to receive the remainder of their funds or exactly how much they will eventually receive. That is, of course, if they collect anything at all.
What Could Happen
1. The problems at IndyMac are not just an isolated incident, but indicative of a U.S. banking system that has been deeply affected by the worsening credit-mortgage crisis.
2. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's insurance fund has a capital reserve of $53 billion. The IndyMac failure could use up 10% of those reserves.
3. The FDIC has a secret list of 90 other 'problem' banks. The FDIC chairman has assured the public that its reserves would be adequate to handle the additional bank failures that are expected to occur.
4. A few more well publicized bank failures could cause depositors to start pulling money out of even the strongest banks. A widespread panic could start a nation-wide bank run.
Why You Should Buy Gold
Investors who own gold do not have to worry about FDIC insurance, bank failures, and the danger of holding large amounts of cash. Gold is safe, stable, and secure.
The Bailout of the GSEs
Last weekend, the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Treasury attempted to restore investor confidence in Freddie Mae and Freddie Mac by agreeing to open up their discount lending window (loan money) to the beleaguered GSEs. For the time being, it seems to have worked.
The Treasury is now lobbying Congress for a permission to invest (buy shares) in either company, if the need arises. And that is in addition to a desire to increase the companies' $2.25 billion dollar lines of credit.
What Could Happen
1. A government bailout of the GSEs would increase our national debt, increasing interest rates at a time when the economy can hardly afford it.
2. The Federal Reserve has repeatedly stated that the GSEs are in no danger of failing. But, what if they're wrong? Between the two of them, Fannie and Freddie guarantee almost half of all the $12 trillion U.S. mortgage debt.
3. Their ability to function is critical for mortgage prices.
4. However, if they collapse, the ability to obtain a cheap mortgage will be the least of anyone's worries.
Why You Should Invest In Gold
Owning gold is like having an insurance policy. It has been around for centuries and will continue to exist for centuries more. Owning gold will give you peace of mind and protect your assets from any possible financial catastrophe.
The Rise in Consumer Prices
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 1.1% in May and is up 5% from a year ago. That's a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 7.9%. Over the same period, food rose 8.7%. And, energy alone is up almost 54%.
That means if you have cash invested in a typical bank savings account, CD, or Treasury bond or bill, you are getting a negative return on your money.
What Could Happen
1. Inflation is rising but the Federal Reserve will be hard pressed to raise interest rates because of the weak economy and stressed-out financial system.
2. That means a weaker dollar. A weaker dollar means a continued rise in inflation. If your investments don't keep pace with inflation, that means less and less purchasing power as time goes on.
Why You Should Be Buying Gold
Gold is a proven hedge against inflation. Did you know that during the five years after WWII that inflation was at its highest, gold had a real return of over 130% compared to a negative 12% for the Dow Industrial Average? Gold is a stable asset that keeps its purchasing power and preserves wealth.
Still not convinced that you should be investing in gold? Throughout history, fiat currencies have collapsed. Stocks, bonds, futures, and options are subject to the fate of the markets and companies associated with them. We've experienced hyperinflation, recessions, and depressions. Both governments and countries have risen and fallen. But, through it all, gold has survived and will continue to be a safe-haven for those wise enough to recognize its true value.
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