The price of gold was trading at $2,491.27 per ounce as of 9 a.m. Eastern time today. That’s a +1.65% change from the same time yesterday and a +31.87% change from a year ago.
| Gold price per ounce | % Change | |
|---|---|---|
| Price of gold yesterday | $2,450.95 | +1.65% |
| Price of gold 1 month ago | $2,438.13 | +2.18% |
| Price of gold 1 year ago | $1,889.23 | +31.87% |
| Price of gold yesterday | |
|---|---|
| $2,450.95 | |
| +1.65% | |
| Price of gold 1 month ago | |
| $2,438.13 | |
| +2.18% | |
| Price of gold 1 year ago | |
| $1,889.23 | |
| +31.87% |
Gold is an asset that many like to own for inflation protection. Rising prices tend to erode the purchasing power of a currency like the U.S. dollar while gold generally increases in value over the long term. Owning gold—like in a gold IRA—can help investors maintain the value of their portfolios and build their assets as well as hedge against volatile markets.
“Gold has intrinsic value and tends to retain its worth over time, making it a stable store of value during economic uncertainties,” says Dennis Shirshikov, a finance professor at City University of New York. Gold can also be a good investment because of its liquidity, according to Shirshikov, since the asset “can be easily bought and sold in the market.”
Historical gold price
Gold is a popular asset for protecting against inflation. As the price of goods rises, purchasing power of the U.S. dollar and other currencies often diminish. Gold, in those instances, typically appreciates in value over time. By investing in gold, individuals can preserve the value of their portfolios, grow their assets, and safeguard against market fluctuations..
Over the very long term, gold has a significantly lower average annual return than stocks. From 1971 to 2024, the stock market delivered average annual returns of 10.7%. Gold delivered an average annual return of 7.9% over the same period.
What does “spot gold” mean?
The spot gold price represents the immediate rate for buying or selling gold in an over-the-counter transaction. By monitoring the spot price, investors can gain insight into investment trends and demand for gold. A higher spot price indicates increased demand. Unlike futures contracts, which are agreements for future transactions, the spot price pertains to immediate sales.
The spot price can be either above or below the futures price. When it is lower, it is referred to as contango, which often occurs with commodities that have high storage costs. Conversely, when the spot price is higher than the futures price, it is known as backwardation. Analysts suggest that market prices will eventually align with futures prices.
Various factors, including supply and demand, influence the spot price, causing constant fluctuation. Investors should be ready for ongoing price changes when investing in gold.
What is price spread in gold trading?
A price spread refers to the difference between the price at which an asset can be purchased and the price at which it can be sold.
Gold operates the same way: The offer price, or ask price, is the amount required to buy gold, representing the investment cost. The bid price is the amount you can receive when selling the gold. Bid prices are consistently lower than ask prices.
A narrower spread indicates a more liquid market. Investors should be reassured by smaller spreads, as they signal increasing demand for gold.
How to invest in gold
According to fee-based financial advisor James Taska, gold can be purchased as a physical asset or as a securitized product. “There is a great debate as to whether paper gold is as useful as the physical,” he says. “From a financial advisor’s viewpoint, it is much easier to rebalance a client’s allocation of gold if it is owned as an exchange-traded fund (ETF), and the spread when attempting to buy/sell gold can be quite variable and wide.”
There are many ways to buy gold. You may decide to create a gold IRA. Here’s how you can invest in gold:
- Gold bars: Known as bullion, many investors choose this option when investing in gold. You can buy it per gram or ounce, and the purity, weight, and manufacturer should be stamped on the face of the bar.
- Gold coins: These are collectible coins, such as the American Gold Eagle coin. Because they are collectibles, they may be bought for a premium over the weight amount of the gold.
- Gold jewelry: Because people buy jewelry for its aesthetic value as well, the price may be significantly more than the value of the gold’s weight.
- Gold futures contracts: A futures contract states that the investor will buy a specified amount of gold for a defined price at a future date. Futures allow investors to speculate on the price of gold in the future without handling the actual physical product.
- Gold funds: These are mutual funds or ETFs that own gold assets. You can purchase shares in gold funds or any other mutual fund investment, and their value fluctuates based on the changes in the underlying portfolio of assets.
Is it a good time to invest in gold?
According to Taska, an “allocation to gold should really be considered on a case-by-case basis.” However, Shirshikov notes that “diversifying a portfolio with gold can reduce overall risk and volatility.”
Because we are living in inflationary times, many investors are looking to diversify their portfolios with gold. Many find that gold offers stability in a highly volatile period for the stock market. Prices have risen to an all-time high since inflation took off over recent years, and J.P. Morgan expects prices to continue to rise to an average of $2,500 per ounce by the end of 2024. Many experts agree this is a good time to diversify your portfolio with gold.
Current precious metals prices as of 9 a.m. ET today
| Precious Metal | Price per ounce |
|---|---|
| Gold | $2,491.27 |
| Silver | $28.38 |
| Platinum | $953.81 |
| Palladium | $939.50 |
| Gold | |
|---|---|
| $2,491.27 | |
| Silver | |
| $28.38 | |
| Platinum | |
| $953.81 | |
| Palladium | |
| $939.50 |
Along with gold, silver, platinum, and palladium are popular precious metals that investors hold in portfolios. When it comes to volatility, gold is less volatile than silver. Silver can have major price swings on any given day. However, silver is more sensitive to economic changes because of its vast use in many industries.
Platinum and palladium also have high industrial uses. Investing in these rare metals is another way to diversify a portfolio, although these metals do fluctuate widely. This can give investors an opportunity to capitalize on speculative profits.
The takeaway
The U.S. economy has been in flux for several years now, and inflation has affected all households. Investors can use gold as an inflationary hedge in their portfolios. There are many ways to purchase gold, making it an easy asset to accumulate based on an investor’s comfort level and interest. You can buy gold in an IRA or a nonretirement account, fitting into both short—and long-term investment objectives.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to own gold?
More investors are buying gold via ETFs, which allows for a managed portfolio of easily traded assets.
Is gold a good investment?
Gold is a good investment for investors looking to diversify their portfolio and get a hedge against inflation. There are many ways to buy gold, making it easy to access the investment.
Should I buy gold coins or gold bars?
Gold coins are considered collectibles and may have a higher value for the weight of gold compared to a bar. Collectible and historical significance can make coins a more attractive asset to some investors.