By Kyle Caldwell
The Telegraph (UK)
Gold has bounced back as investors seek exposure to the metal in all its forms. Fears of inflation and of conflict in the Middle East are just two of the factors driving demand. Should you be joining the buyers?
The gold price crashed in the first part of 2013 but staged a recovery in late June; the price has risen by more than 20pc. Now consumers in Asia, along with other investors spooked by events in Syria, are driving stronger demand – just as supply is falling as miners scale back production.
ETF Securities, which offers gold tracking funds, highlighted the trend in a note published this week. It expects the shortage of gold to intensify. Demand from China is a major factor, it said. “Imports of gold from Hong Kong in the first six months of 2013 amounted to 16 million ounces, more than double the amount imported by China over the same period last year,” it said.