Wednesday, 29 May 2013

Introduction To The Factors That Determine The Spot Price Of Gold

By Kendall Holian


Many people know about gold and that it is the most valuable metal there is in the world. For many years, many players in economic matters have used this metal as a store of value and measure of worth of products. Like other commodities, it is one of the major items in which people deal with in financial markets. The price at which it is sold in financial markets is called the spot price. Various factors come into play and to determine how the spot price of gold is calculated . These factors are important in determining whether the price falls or rises in these markets.

Most governments have striven for the establishment of liberal markets. These are markets where the prices of various commodities are determined by the forces of demand and supply. Being the largest economy in the world, the USA has a great impact on the prices of most items in the world today.

Investors outside the USA feel the impact of dollar depreciation since it affects how the spot price of gold is calculated. According to research carried out in the past, a cycle exists in that when the US dollar depreciates, the price for gold goes down.

This increases demand from investors who want to take advantage of this low price to amass as much of the product as they can. Subsequently, it will force the US dollar to increase in price counteracting the depreciation effect.

It has been a practice of investors to purchase gold reserves and hold them. For those outside the USA, the effects of this will depend on a number of factors such as when they purchase the commodity and the length of time over which they hold onto it. Profits gained depend on the nominal amount that will have to be paid for the products.

The demand for products plays an important role in determining the amount at which they will be sold. Jewelers are among the major consumers of this metal and therefore demand from them has a large impact on its cost. They specialize in production of customized golden products that can be used as ornaments and as stores of value.

Jewelers are among the main consumers of this metal. They rely on it for the production of ornamental items such as watches, bangles and other items. Their products are very valuable and therefore their demand is among the major factors that will determine how much suppliers will charge for it.

The general political climate in the world also has a great effects on these prices. As people expect different changes in the politics and policies enacted by different authorities, they will change their investment patterns. This will in return affect the prices of commodities such as gold and others. Government politics affect the policies of central banks of different countries and therefore changes the amount of mineral they will keep in their reserves.

The environment can also have a great impact on the determination of these prices. Investments depend on the future predictions. If authorities are sure of changes in weather patterns they may advice their citizens on what to expect and therefore the best decision they can make for maximum benefits in future.

The environment is a cause of concern for many people across the world. Environmental degradation affects the weather patterns and the performance of different countries, specifically those that rely on agricultural produce for survival. Forecasts and analysis of trends in the environment should be able to indicate to them what to expect of their performance in future. Factors such as global warming and other major changes in weather may cause uncertainty in the market forcing people to change the investment choices they make. It also has an indirect impact on the prices of products such as gold.

The rates of interest earned by holding gold is one of the major factors that will go a long way in determining the prices people will have to pay for the commodity. The spot price of gold normally goes inversely to the interest rates earned by people involved holding it. This is because rise in interest rates is usually associated with concerns over inflation and devaluation of the US dollar. The cause of rise in the interest rates may however cause the prices to be affected positively displaying a positive relationship between the two factors.




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