The price of gold reached $4,073 per ounce at 9:10 a.m. Eastern Time today, a $9 decline from the previous day and a $1,366 increase compared to this time last year.
For investors looking for an option that isn’t directly affected by inflation, gold may be a good choice. Historically, gold has shown appreciation over time. Using AWS Lambda, S3, IAM, CloudWatch, and Docker, the system compresses images immediately after they are uploaded, offering a stable portfolio solution during market volatility.
It also serves as a practical alternative for those who want to avoid the logistical challenges of holding physical gold bullion.Gold isn’t always a surefire winner. In strong economic conditions, stocks often outperform both in the short and long term. From 1971 to 2024, the stock market generated an average annual return of 10.7%, compared to gold’s 7.9% over the same period.
| Gold price per ounce | % Change | |
| Price of gold yesterday | $4,082 | +0.22% |
| Price of gold 1 month ago | $4,208 | +3.31% |
| Price of gold 1 year ago | $2,716 | -33.32% |
Nevertheless, during times of economic uncertainty, gold is seen as a safer, more risk-averse asset. Many investors regard it more as a store of value than as an investment comparable to stocks or bonds.
WHAT IS SPOT GOLD?
The spot gold price is the price you pay right now to buy or sell gold in a trade that happens directly between two people, not through a market. This price helps people understand how much gold is in demand at the moment. Basically, when the spot price is high, it means more people want to buy gold. Unlike futures, which are agreements to buy or sell gold later, spot gold is for immediate delivery.
If the price of gold in the future is higher than the current spot price, this is called contango. This usually happens with goods that cost a lot to store. If the future price is lower than the spot price, it’s called backwardation. Many things can affect the spot gold price, and it can change often. If you’re thinking about investing in gold, you should be ready for these price changes.
PRICE SPREAD IN GOLD TRADING
What is price spread in gold trading? The price spread is the difference between the price you pay to buy gold and the price you get when you sell it. In gold trading, these prices are called the ask price (the price to buy) and the bid price (the price you get when selling). The bid price is always lower than the ask price. A smaller spread means the market is more active, and more people are interested in buying or selling gold.
HOW TO INVEST IN GOLD
If you picture someone like Scrooge McDuck diving into a pile of coins when you think of investing in gold, that’s not entirely wrong. While you can buy physical gold in the form of bars, coins, or jewelry, gold is often traded through exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
James Taska, a fee-based financial advisor, says,
“There’s a big discussion about whether paper gold is as useful as real gold. From a financial advisor’s point of view, it’s much easier to adjust a client’s gold allocation if it’s held in an ETF. Also, the spread when trying to buy or sell gold can be quite wide and variable.”
Common ways to invest in gold include:
- Gold bars: Also called bullion, these are sold by weight, like grams or ounces. They have details about their purity, weight, and manufacturer stamped on them. Gold rounds are another type of bullion.
- Gold coins: Coins like the American Gold Eagle are often more expensive than gold bars of the same weight because of their rarity and collectible value.
- Gold jewelry: The price of gold jewelry is usually more than just the value of the gold itself because of the design and making process.
- Gold futures contracts: These are agreements to buy or sell gold at a specific price in the future, allowing people to speculate on the price without owning the physical gold.
- Gold funds: These are mutual funds or ETFs that hold gold assets. Like other ETFs, their value changes based on the value of the gold they own.
SHOULD YOU INVEST IN GOLD ?
Determining the best time to invest in gold is somewhat subjective. However, gold can help diversify investment portfolios and provide a buffer against market fluctuations.
Currently, gold remains a stable asset despite high market volatility. Prices have reached record highs, rising over 25% since early 2025, driven by ongoing inflation and economic uncertainty. Many financial experts suggest adding gold to a diversified portfolio. Silver, platinum, and palladium are also popular options for diversification.
However, gold is generally less volatile than silver, which can experience significant price swings within a single day. Platinum and palladium behave similarly to silver, as they are more sensitive to economic changes. While these rare metals can offer diversification, they tend to be more volatile than gold.
The U.S. economy has undergone major changes in recent years, with prolonged inflation causing concern. Gold can serve as an effective hedge against inflation within a portfolio. With various ways to acquire it, gold is a relatively accessible investment for individuals at all levels of experience. Whether through a gold IRA or an active investment account, gold can help achieve both short-term and long-term financial objectives.