Summit Notebook
Exclusive outtakes from industry leaders
Fear factor driving gold higher
“Gold is not an investment. It doesn’t pay you interest and it doesn’t increase wealth,” complained one investment advisor recently as he perused exploding client demand for the yellow metal.
“It’s just a cautious asset for scared investors,” he grumbled as he waved a chart showing prices had once again hit an all-time high.
Some anecdotal evidence suggests he may have a point.
Bankers at this week’s Reuters Private Banking Summit said investors were loading up on gold to the tune of some 7 to 10 percent of their portfolios.
The traditional motive of hedging against inflation was conspicuous by its absence.
