Centuries have passed, but the yellow metal has not lost its glitter. Studies have revealed that portfolios that have included gold or gold shares have outperformed those portfolios, which included just stocks and bonds. Holding gold assets not only help in generating good long-term returns, but also help in reducing the risk element in periods of economic instability. It has been found that investment in gold and gold shares is best suited for long-term funds like the pension and retirement funds. Surely the glitter still remains.

Many extensive studies have found that holding gold assets (i.e. gold bullion or gold shares) as part of an investment portfolio may help to improve long-term returns while reducing risk versus holding just stocks and bonds.Gold is one of the oldest monetary standards in the world. It is recognized by every country in the world, and many countries have actually used it as their currency at one time or another. Gold is liquid, it is portable, and its value is accepted everywhere.

Gold draws its strength as a preserver of wealth from its relatively consistent price parity with other commodities throughout history. Two studies have documented this historical stability. The first, The Golden Constant, by Roy W. Jastram, published in 1977, analyzes gold prices in comparison to other commodities, represented by the wholesale price index, in Britain and the United States. The second, Gold as a Store of Value, a Research Study for the World Gold Council by Stephen Harmston, extends this study to France, Japan and Germany.

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