Gold Market

The gold market has long been a lucrative and attractive proposition for investors. With an enduring place in financial history as a medium of exchange, gold's unique characteristics mean it is as desirable as it is durable. Today, many people choose to invest in gold as a safe haven against other relatively unstable investments.

There are many ways to trade on the gold market, including buying actual gold coins or gold bullion, certificates showing gold ownership, exchange-traded funds, in derivatives or indirectly by purchasing shares in mining companies. Gold prices are largely governed from the results of the London Gold Fixing, which is where several bullion-trading firms meet twice a day to set the price of gold.

Several unique elements can affect the gold mining industry, such as large reserves of gold being released or bought from the market from a major bank or financial institution. The state of world markets also has a major impact on gold prices, and traditionally people buy gold at times of instability because of its ability to preserve value. Like all commodities, though, supply and demand are what effectively drive the gold market.

For more information about the Australian gold market please visit the other pages in this section:

• Gold Futures
• Gold Charts
• World Gold Prices