Gold Gold stands apart from commodities.

In a recent study entitled Gold: a commodity like no other, research by the World Gold Council showed that while gold is sometimes viewed in the context of commodities, there are a number of qualities that separate it from the broader commodity complex and that investors who hold gold only through a commodity index tend to be under-allocated. Gold is, in many ways, synonymous with luxury and wealth. Half of all gold in above-ground stocks still exists in the form of jewellery, yet it is also an important financial asset and is considered by many as a currency in its own right. It has been proven as a store of wealth and an efficient diversifier of risk and it plays an important role in central banks reserve asset management. Globally, golds religious and cultural significance around the world makes it attractive for reasons beyond its economic value. It also acts as a reliable and essential component used in a range of electronics, medical and dental applications and is continually proving its wider relevance as an innovative enabler to new technologies. Moreover, the size, depth and liquidity of the gold market ranks much higher than sovereign debt and individual stocks. These factors coupled with golds ability to reduce portfolio credit risks, add liquidity, increase diversification and preserve wealth during times of economic duress makes it attractive for investors.