Finance & economics | Buttonwood

Why gold has lost some of its investment allure

It has been less reliable than inflation-protected Treasuries, and is less exciting than crypto

INFLATION IS SURGING, central-bank money-printing has run amok and political tensions between the world’s powers are intensifying. These ingredients sound like a waking fantasy for ardent believers in the long-term promise of gold. Even mainstream investors might have been tempted to increase their holdings of the precious metal. Why then was it unable to eke out even a marginal gain in 2021, recording its worst annual performance in six years?

This article appeared in the Finance & economics section of the print edition under the headline “Lost lustre”

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