One of the most popular assets – gold. We trade it very often and every day we watch it change its dynamic from growth to falls. Although it hasn’t been the most stable lately it is safe to say that watching it is the most interesting thing. Especially if you put it together with dollar or oil.
So, what do we know about gold?
1. It is the only yellow metal.
2. 79.
3. You can invest in it in a number of ways.
4. Gold is not a consumable commodity.
5. It is the softest.
6. It can play a role of a currency.
1. It is the only yellow metal.
With all the variety of natural metals gold seem to be the only naturally yellow one, right? Well, if you noticed it, then you are correct! Due to physics of it, gold absorbs blue light harder and as a result is the only metal that can boast on being naturally yellow.
2. 79.
It can be found on the bottom of periodic table under the number 79.
3. You can invest in it in a number of ways.
It is another specific part of the asset that we can always appreciate. Gold can be invested in in a number of ways. The most popular of which is far away from the market. The most popular way of investing in gold is buying jewelry.
Although it is not considered as investment, by buying jewelry you are converting your money into gold, which is a perfect way to save its value. Of course, aside from buying jewelry you can also invest in gold by purchasing bars and coins, ETFs, gold-focused stocks and gold futures.
4. Gold is not a consumable commodity.
Although a popular belief, gold is not consumed. It is not burned like gas and not produced into something else like oil. And even though the number seems bigger, only 12 percent of gold is consumer for industrial purposes like electronics, computers and medical fields. Other 88 percent you ask? Well, that is all jewelry, as was said before.
Interesting that this non-consumable role can’t be attributed to all the metals. For example, copper is deemed to be consumable.
5. It is the softest.
Although the correct term to use here is malleable – it is the softness of the metal that defines how easy it is going to be to work with it and make something out of it. And gold takes a ‘gold’ medal here. It is the most malleable metal there is. Interesting is the fact that gold can be pressed down so thinly that the leaf of gold becomes see-through. That is how soft it is.
6. It can play a role of a currency.
Just like in the old days. Gold can still be used as a currency. Although we have long rejected the golden standard, gold is still a benchmark for the prices of money and bills that we are used. A county is only deemed successful and stable if it has a large amount of gold stashed.
Can the same be said about people? Interesting. I would vote yes.
