Gold is considered by many to be a safe-haven asset, i.e., the demand for gold usually increases during times of financial crises. As the current economic scenario is plagued by uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 crisis, gold has seen an increase in demand. Since the beginning of the year, i.e., January 1, 2020, up to June 19, 2020, in India, gold has given an absolutely return of approximately 14.5% in USD terms. (Source: World Gold Council)
The demand for gold has also come from central banks around the world. In fact, globally, central banks have been net buyers of gold for the last two years, and they continue to do so in 2020. In terms of metric tonnes, global gold reserves have increased by approximately 2.7% from 33,974 tonnes on 31st March, 2018 to 34,892 tonnes as on 31st March, 2020.
The price of gold has appreciated significantly since the 2008 financial crises, until it reached its peak around September, 2011. The reserves of gold held by global central banks also started increasing after the 2008 crisis. This correlates with the notion of gold being considered as a safe haven asset, whose demand increases in times of financial crises.
Experts believe that it is possible that gold reserves and prices may follow a similar trend in the wake of the current economic crises around the spread of Covid-19. Even though the price of gold has increased in recent years, the demand for gold is not likely to wane in the near future. The increasing covid-19 cases have increased concerns of a delay in economic recovery. Also, possible increases in inflation due to the push for higher liquidity, lower interest rates and stimulus packages by central banks may keep the demand for gold intact. Gold is generally considered a hedge against inflation, and therefore tends to benefit from stimulus measures.
Indicative of sentiment that gold is often used a safer store of value in times of economic and political crises, the holdings of SPDR ETF, a world’s largest gold ETF, have increased and stood at around 1136.219 tonnes as on June 18, 2020.
Therefore, it will be interesting to observe the demand for gold in the coming months amidst the uncertainty created by the Covid-19 crises. How to play this opportunity? will post it tomorrow.
Happy Investing!
R♥Vi
Sources: IMF, Goldhub, World Gold Council and other publicly available information
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