Despite forecasting many warning signals for the market some prominent investors continue to maintain their positions. An exception to this is Naguib Sawiris, an Egyptian billionaire who has put fifty percent of his net worth (estimated at about $6 billion) into gold. What prompted him to make such as drastic move?

There is a big difference between investing in shares of gold mining and gold bullion. Shares are ultimately speculative, and require good timing to be profitable. In recent years gold mining has become more complicated and risky. This is why many experts feel that purchasing physical gold is far safer and cost effective than mining shares. Below are some ways in which gold shares influence gold bullion, making it more attractive.

Bitcoin and other crypto currencies have been featured heavily in the news as of late, with some even proclaiming them as a replacement of gold. Bit coin certainly has its advantages. It is digital, restricted in the quantity that can be produced, and isn’t subject to the politics and corruption which are too often associated with traditional government issued fiat currencies. A growing number of merchants are accepting it as form of payment, but can it really replace the yellow metal?

Gold is one of the world’s most prized commodities, and while many wear it as a form of jewelry, others use it as a hedge against inflation or economic uncertainty. Regardless, it is important to know the difference between real and fake gold. While this is easy to accomplish by visiting a gold expert, there are a number of tests you can perform in situations where a gold expert is not available. Below are some of them.

Over the last fifteen years, gold and silver ETFs have become quite popular, largely because of convenience. Electronic traded funds are handled digitally, which means investors don’t have to worry about the weight, storage, or security concerns which are associated with holding physical metals. However, ETFs aren’t all as they’re cracked up to be, and below are some reasons why holding physical gold and silver can be a better choice.

PAMP Suisse is one of the world’s top institutions when it comes to bullion, particularly gold bars. They were founded in 1977 and are headquartered in Switzerland. Although it is relatively young when compared to other international mints, PAMP utilizes cutting edge fabrication and refinery equipment, and their skill and attention to detail have brought them tremendous respect and profitability.