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Does gold ever go down in value?

The value of gold rises and falls like any other investment. While gold will almost certainly never gain or lose its relative value as quickly as penny stocks and dot-com initial public offerings, movements in the price of gold can still convey information. Gold prices have risen in recent weeks as investors seek safe havens out of fear that Russia will invade Ukraine, but in the long term, Joni Teves of the UBS Investment Bank predicts that the recent strength in gold prices will be short-lived. He spoke to CNBC on Monday, before Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the entry of forces into two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, after announcing that the Kremlin would recognize their independence.

To learn more about the implications of this news for gold prices, click to read more.The latest escalation in Ukraine raised doubts about the possibility of a diplomatic solution to the current crisis. Since then, President Joe Biden has ordered sanctions on separatist regions of Ukraine, and the European Union has also promised additional measures. Traditionally, gold is considered a safe investment in times of uncertainty. As the end of the current quarter approaches, the Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates at its March meeting to cool inflationary pressures, and Teves said that's likely to put pressure on gold.

Higher interest rate expectations tend to boost returns on assets such as the U.S. UU. The Treasury is on the rise, which could reduce the attractiveness of an unprofitable asset, such as gold. Morgan Stanley's Wilson says inflation is about to fall; warns of a “new era” looming Goldman Sachs says the “bear market is not over” for global stocks and predicts it will hit rock bottom.

Even so, he acknowledged that upward risks for gold are increasing. In addition, allocations to gold could start to pick up as investors become increasingly concerned about the slowdown in economic growth as the Federal Reserve tightens its policy, he said. Do you have any confidential news? We want to hear from you. Get this in your inbox and learn more about our products and services.

Founded in 1993 by brothers Tom and David Gardner, The Motley Fool helps millions achieve financial freedom through our website, podcasts, books, newspaper columns, radio programs and premium investment services. Motley Fool issues a rare “all inclusive” alert You are reading a free article with opinions that may differ from those of The Motley Fool's premium investment services. Become a member of Motley Fool today to get instant access to recommendations from our top analysts, extensive research, investment resources and more. More information Gold has underperformed than the United States.

Long-term stock market. However, the yellow material is reputed to be a safe asset in times of uncertainty. And many have even referred to gold as a hedge against inflation. This is what is putting pressure on gold now and why it can be a good buying opportunity despite not being an effective hedge against inflation.

The slowdown in economic growth and the increase in geopolitical problems tend to improve the price of gold. The dollar hurts the price of gold, due to the strength of the United States. The dollar in relation to other currencies makes it more expensive for foreign buyers to buy the U.S. In recessions, the Federal Reserve would lower interest rates and, hopefully, weaken the U.S.

The dollar in an effort to encourage domestic consumption and make it less expensive to export to the United States. However, because the Federal Reserve's priority, the No. Arguably, a strong dollar is the biggest obstacle holding back gold right now. .

Of course, many of those surveys were conducted before the recent cryptocurrency crash. However, Millennials are now the most active generation in the economy, now that many of the baby boomers have retired. Lower demand for gold as an investment in risk-averse portfolios or for retirement could reduce demand. Many investors may think that depressed stocks are a better buy now than gold.

Gold may have fallen 18% from its peak, but there are many major stocks that have more than fallen more than 50%. Even several well-known components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, such as Nike, Home Depot and Salesforce, are down 30 to 53% from their all-time highs. Warren Buffett has long said that gold is a bad investment because its growth prospects are limited to supply and demand, and not to a company that can grow with innovation and good management. By keeping cash on the sidelines or buying gold now, an investor basically claims that investing in gold is a better use of capital than a different asset.

Despite all the disadvantages discussed, now might be the perfect time to add some gold to a diversified portfolio, especially if that portfolio needs lower-risk assets. In addition to the fall in price, gold could be the ideal investment for a prolonged recession, continued economic weakness and could even rebound if the U.S. The Federal Reserve has made it clear that it is raising interest rates to combat inflation, but that increases are likely to stop once inflation is under control. If unemployment rises, the labor market weakens and the U.S.

When falling into a recession, inflation is likely to decline due to declining consumer spending. That's a bad setup for most assets, but a decent one for gold. While it may be tempting to buy shares in a gold mining company that has fallen even further from its peak, the simplest and safest way to buy gold is to opt for an exchange-traded fund (ETF), such as the SPDR Gold Shares ETF (GLD 0.62%) or the iShares Gold Trust (0.64% from the IAU). Both ETFs are at 52-week lows and are intended to track the price of gold by keeping physical gold insured in a trust.

The SPDR Gold Shares ETF has an expense ratio of only 0.4%, and the iShares Gold Trust offers an even lower spending ratio of 0.25%, which is a much better and more liquid alternative to buying physical gold bars and paying a substantial premium over the spot. For investors looking for low-risk assets to buy now, opening an initial position on a gold ETF could be a reasonable move. Market-leading stocks from our award-winning team of analysts. Invest better with The Motley Fool.

Get stock recommendations, portfolio guidance and more from The Motley Fool's premium services. Making the World Smarter, Happier and Richer. The World Gold Council, the market development organization for the gold industry, recently opined that the commodity will face two key obstacles. The dollar is likely to drive up the price of gold due to increased demand (because you can buy more gold when the dollar is weaker).

Therefore, gold prices may be affected by the basic theory of supply and demand; as demand for consumer goods such as jewelry and electronics increases, the cost of gold may increase. .