Going for gold - the smart way How does one invest in gold? QUAH CHIN CHIN lists the various options available, but also sounds a cautionary note about entering the market now AN ANCIENT Chinese saying claims that “with gold, anything is possible”. Indeed, men have always been fascinated with gold – the most glamorised and sought-after precious metal – for its beauty and, of course, its value. With the price of gold hitting record highs in recent weeks – it soared above US$900 an ounce in January and forecasts see the US$1,000 threshold being breached this year – gold trading has, unsurprisingly, made headlines all over the world. As an instrument, gold is typically seen as a financial asset that maintains its value during times of economic, political or social upheaval. Hence, it provides investors with a hedge against sharp downtrends in complementary assets (such as stocks and bonds), and against inflation and currency volatility. Methods of investing One of the ways to invest in gold is by buying or selling physical gold, such as gold bullion coins or gold bars, in various weights – usually in denominations of one ounce, 1/2 ounce, 1/4 ounce, 1/10 ounce and 1/20 ounce. Banks that sell physical gold include the Canadian Bank of Nova Scotia and United Overseas Bank. UOB offers a range of gold bullion coins, namely the Canadian gold maple leaf, the Australian gold nugget, and the Singapore Lion gold coin, said a spokeswoman. Read more...