What makes gold a strategic asset?

Gold benefits from diverse sources of demand: as an investment, a reserve asset, jewellery, and a technology component. It is highly liquid, no one’s liability, carries no credit risk, and is scarce, historically preserving its value over time.

How to value gold for maximum portfolio impact

Gold does not directly conform to the majority of the most common valuation methodologies used for equities or bonds. Without a coupon or dividend, typical models based on discounted cash flows, expected earnings, or book-to-value ratios, struggle to provide an appropriate assessment for gold’s underlying value. This presented an opportunity for the World Gold Council to develop a framework to better understand gold valuation.

What is the Gold Valuation Framework (GVF)?

GVF is a methodology that allows investors to understand the drivers of gold demand and supply and, based on market equilibrium, estimate their impact on price performance. GVF powers our web-based tool, QaurumSM, which allows users to assess the potential performance of gold under customisable hypothetical macroeconomic scenarios provided by Oxford Economics.1
 

Macro drivers

 

Our analysis shows that the price performance of gold can be explained by the interaction of four key drivers:

  • Economic expansion: periods of growth are very supportive of jewellery, technology and long-term savings
  • Risk and uncertainty: market downturns often boost investment demand for gold as a safe haven
  • Opportunity cost: the price of competing assets, especially bonds (through interest rates) and currencies, influences investor attitudes towards gold
  • Momentum: capital flows, positioning and price trends can boost or dampen gold's performance.
     

 

Focus 1

 

For more information on long- and short-term drivers of gold, visit the data section on Goldhub.com.

Gold can enhance a portfolio in four key ways:

Returns

Diversification

Liquidity

Portfolio performance

Extraordinary times with extraordinary opportunities

2020 posed unprecedented challenges to investors as the first global pandemic in a century ravaged the world economically and socially.

COVID-19 significantly increased uncertainty by compounding existing risks and creating new ones. The rollout of new vaccines at the end of last year fuelled optimism that the worst was over. Yet the pandemic and the ensuing policy response from governments will likely have unintended consequences for, and create structural changes to, asset allocation strategies. 

Global central banks have effectively taken interest rates to zero, driving nearly all sovereign debt to negative real yields. With less opportunity for yield across fixed income assets – especially those of shorter duration or higher quality – investors will likely continue to shift exposure to riskier assets. This has pushed many global stock markets to extreme levels on numerous valuation metrics and – importantly - has also served to increase the risk profile of most investment portfolios.

Additionally, many countries have made it clear they will continue to enact sizeable fiscal policy measures to tackle the economic impact of COVID-19, along with expanding budget deficits and balance sheets. 

We believe these actions - in combination with the current environment have made gold increasingly relevant as a strategic asset. Not only could investors benefit from gold’s role as a diversifier amid ballooning budget deficits, inflationary pressures, and potential market corrections from already high equity valuations, but they may also see additional support as gold consumption will likely benefit from the nascent economic recovery, especially in emerging markets  (see 2021 Gold Outlook).

ESG considerations

Over recent years, investors have increasingly looked to integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations as part of their investment process. For example, 89% of European investors now take ESG factors into account when they make investment decisions.2 This increased emphasis on ESG reflects increasing pressure for businesses to actively manage ESG risks. It also emphasises that good ESG performance could lead to better long-term financial performance.3 This shift towards a greater integration has important implications for gold, which needs to demonstrate that it is produced and sourced responsibly, as well as the role that gold can play in supporting ESG objectives within a portfolio (Focus 2: Gold as an ESG investment).4

The increased relevance of gold

Institutional investors5 have embraced alternatives to traditional stocks and bonds in pursuit of diversification and higher risk-adjusted returns. The share of non-traditional assets, such as hedge funds, private equity funds or commodities, among global pension funds increased from 7% in 1998 to 23% in 2019 – this figure is 30% in the US (Chart 1).6

Gold allocations have been recipients of this shift. Investors increasingly recognise gold as a mainstream investment; global investment demand has grown by an average of 15% per year since 2001 and the gold price has increased almost seven-fold over the same period.7

Our analysis illustrates that adding between 2% and 10% in gold to a hypothetical US pension fund average portfolio over the past decade would have resulted in higher risk-adjusted returns.8

 

Chart 1: Alternative investments including gold have become a key portfolio strategy

Alternative investments including gold have become a key portfolio strategy

Institutional investors continue to add alternative investments, including gold, to their portfolios*

Alternative investments including gold have become a key portfolio strategy
Institutional investors continue to add alternative investments, including gold, to their portfolios*
Sources: World Gold Council, Willis Towers Watson; Disclaimer *As of December 2020. See Willis Towers Watson, Global Pension Asset Study 2021.

来源: 世界黄金协会, 韦莱韬悦; 版权和其他权利

 

Gold performance has been strong in recent decades, supported by key structural changes

 

Gold performance has been strong in recent decades, supported by key structural changes

Gold performance has been strong in recent decades, supported by key structural changes
Sources: World Gold Council

来源: 世界黄金协会; 版权和其他权利

Gold’s strategic role

Our analysis shows gold is a clear complement to equities, bonds and broad-based portfolios. A store of wealth and a hedge against systemic risk, currency depreciation and inflation, gold has historically improved portfolios’ risk-adjusted returns, delivered positive returns, and provided liquidity to meet liabilities in times of market stress. 

A source of returns

Investors have long considered gold a beneficial asset during periods of uncertainty. Historically, it has generated long-term positive returns in both good and bad economic times. Looking back almost half a century, the price of gold in US dollars has increased by an average of nearly 11% per year since 19719 when the gold standard collapsed.10 Over this period, gold’s long-term return is comparable to equities and higher than bonds.11 Gold has also outperformed many other major asset classes over the past five, 10 and 20 years (Chart 2 and Chart 3). 

This duality reflects the diverse sources of demand for gold and differentiates it from other investment assets. Gold is often used to protect and enhance wealth over the long term as it is no one’s liability, and it operates as a means of exchange due to its global recognition. 

Gold is also in demand via the jewellery market, valued by consumers across the world. And it is a key component in electronics.12 These diverse sources of demand give gold a particular resilience: the potential to deliver solid returns in various market conditions (Chart 7, p6).

 

Chart 2: Gold has outperformed most broad-based portfolio components over the past two decades*

Gold has outperformed most broad-based portfolio components over the past two decades*

Average annual return of key global assets in US dollars*

Gold has outperformed most broad-based portfolio components over the past two decades*
Average annual return of key global assets in US dollars*
Sources: Bloomberg, ICE Benchmark Administration, World Gold Council; Disclaimer *Returns from 31 December 2001 to 31 December 2020. Return computations in US dollars for ‘cash’: ICE BofA US 3-Month Treasury Bill Index; ‘US bonds’: Bloomberg Barclays US Agg Total Return Value Unhedged USD; Bloomberg Barclays US Treasury Total Return Unhedged USD; ‘Global bonds’: Bloomberg Barclays Global-Aggregate Total Return Index Value Unhedged USD; ‘EM bonds’: Bloomberg Barclays EM USD Aggregate Total Return Index Value Unhedged; ‘US equities’: MSCI Daily TR Gross USA USD; EAFE equities: MSCI Daily TR Gross EAFE USD; ‘EM equities’: MSCI Daily TR Gross EM USD; ‘commodities’: Bloomberg Commodity Index Total Return; ‘hedge funds’: Hedge Fund Research HFRI Fund Weighted Composite Index; ‘REITs’: FTSE Nareit Equity REITs Total Return Index USD; and ‘gold’: LBMA Gold Price PM USD. On Goldhub.com: Gold returns

来源: 彭博社, 洲际交易所基准管理机构, 世界黄金协会; 版权和其他权利

*Returns from 31 December 2001 to 31 December 2020. 
Return computations in US dollars for ‘cash’: ICE BofA US 3-Month Treasury Bill Index; ‘US bonds’: Bloomberg Barclays US Agg Total Return Value Unhedged USD; Bloomberg Barclays US Treasury Total Return Unhedged USD; ‘Global bonds’: Bloomberg Barclays Global-Aggregate Total Return Index Value Unhedged USD; ‘EM bonds’: Bloomberg Barclays EM USD Aggregate Total Return Index Value Unhedged; ‘US equities’: MSCI Daily TR Gross USA USD; EAFE equities: MSCI Daily TR Gross EAFE USD; ‘EM equities’: MSCI Daily TR Gross EM USD; ‘commodities’: Bloomberg Commodity Index Total Return; ‘hedge funds’: Hedge Fund Research HFRI Fund Weighted Composite Index; ‘REITs’: FTSE Nareit Equity REITs Total Return Index USD; and ‘gold’: LBMA Gold Price PM USD.

On Goldhub.com: Gold returns

 

Chart 3: Gold has performed well over the past decade, despite the strong performance of risk-assets

Gold has performed well over the past decade, despite the strong performance of risk-assets

Average annual return over the past five and ten years*

Gold has performed well over the past decade, despite the strong performance of risk-assets
Average annual return over the past five and ten years*
Sources: Bloomberg, ICE Benchmark Administration, World Gold Council *Returns in US dollars from 31 December 2010 to 31 December 2020. See Chart 2 for respective indices. On Goldhub.com see: Gold returns

来源: 彭博社, 洲际交易所基准管理机构, 世界黄金协会; 版权和其他权利

*Returns in US dollars from 31 December 2010 to 31 December 2020. See Chart 2 for respective indices.

On Goldhub.com see: Gold returns

Beating inflation, combating deflation

Gold has long been considered a hedge against inflation and the data confirms this. The average annual return of 11% in US dollars over the past 50 years, has outpaced the US and world consumer price indices (CPI).13 

Gold also protects investors against high and extreme inflation. In years when inflation was higher than 3%, gold’s price increased 15% per year on average (Chart 4). Over the long term, therefore, gold has not just preserved capital but helped it grow. 

Research also shows that gold should do well in periods of deflation.14 Such periods are characterised by low interest rates, reduced consumption and investment, and financial stress, all of which tend to foster gold demand.

 

Chart 4: Gold historically rallies in periods of high inflation, outperforming broad-based commodities

Gold historically rallies in periods of high inflation, outperforming broad-based commodities

Gold and commodity nominal returns in US dollars as a function of annual inflation*

Gold historically rallies in periods of high inflation, outperforming broad-based commodities
Gold and commodity nominal returns in US dollars as a function of annual inflation*
Sources: Bloomberg, ICE Benchmark Administration, World Gold Council *As of 31 December 2020. Based on y-o-y changes in US dollars for ‘gold’: LBMA Gold Price PM, ‘commodities’: Bloomberg Commodity Index and ‘inflation’: US CPI since January 1971.

来源: 彭博社, 洲际交易所基准管理机构, 世界黄金协会; 版权和其他权利

*As of 31 December 2020. Based on y-o-y changes in US dollars for ‘gold’: LBMA Gold Price PM, ‘commodities’: Bloomberg Commodity Index and ‘inflation’: US CPI since January 1971. 

Outperforming fiat currencies

Investor demand has been boosted by persistently low interest rates and concerns about the outlook for the dollar, which affect the perceived opportunity cost of holding gold.

Historically, major currencies were pegged to gold. That changed with the unravelling of the US gold standard in 1971 and the eventual collapse of the Bretton Woods system.15 Since then, with few exceptions, gold has significantly outperformed all major currencies and commodities as a means of exchange (Chart 5). This outperformance was particularly marked immediately after the end of the gold standard. A key factor behind this robust performance is that the supply growth of gold has changed little over time – increasing by approximately 1.4% per year over the past 20 years.16

By contrast, fiat money can be printed in unlimited quantities to support monetary policy, as exemplified by the quantitative easing measures in the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC).17 In recent years, the rapidly increasing global money supply and a low to negative rate environment have fostered an optimal environment for gold to outperform global sovereign debt, such as US treasuries and to track the global money supply (Chart 6 p6).

 

Chart 5: The purchasing power of major currencies and commodities has significantly eroded relative to gold

The purchasing power of major currencies and commodities has significantly eroded relative to gold

Value of currencies and broad commodities relative to gold (January 2000 = 100)*

The purchasing power of major currencies and commodities has significantly eroded relative to gold
Value of currencies and broad commodities relative to gold (January 2000 = 100)*
Sources: Bloomberg, ICE Benchmark Administration, World Gold Council *As of 31 December 2020. Relative value between ‘gold’: LBMA Gold Price PM, ‘commodities’: Bloomberg Commodity Index, and major currencies since 2000. Value of commodities and currencies measured in ounces of gold and indexed to 100 in January 2000. On Goldhub.com see: Gold prices.

来源: 彭博社, 洲际交易所基准管理机构, 世界黄金协会; 版权和其他权利

*As of 31 December 2020. Relative value between ‘gold’: LBMA Gold Price PM, ‘commodities’: Bloomberg Commodity Index, and major currencies since 2000. Value of commodities and currencies measured in ounces of gold and indexed to 100 in January 2000. 

On Goldhub.com see: Gold prices.

 

 

Chart 6: Gold prices have tracked the expansion of global money supply and outpaced T-bills over time

Gold prices have tracked the expansion of global money supply and outpaced T-bills over time

Global M2 growth, US 3m T-bill total return, gold price*

Gold prices have tracked the expansion of global money supply and outpaced T-bills over time
Global M2 growth, US 3m T-bill total return, gold price*
Sources: Bloomberg, ICE Benchmark Administration, Oxford Economics, World Gold Council *As of 31 December 2020. Data starts in 1973 due to data availability. Global M2 is first calculated by aggregating the available universe of individual country M2 in US dollars (excluding Venezuela due to data quality) as provided by Oxford Economics. The resulting aggregate is then re-based to 100 on January 1973. US 3m T-bill total returns constructed using cumulative returns based on 3-month US T-bill yields and also rebased to 100 on January 1973. Gold based on the LBMA Gold Price PM USD.

来源: 彭博社, 洲际交易所基准管理机构, 牛津经济研究院, 世界黄金协会; 版权和其他权利

*As of 31 December 2020. Data starts in 1973 due to data availability. Global M2 is first calculated by aggregating the available universe of individual country M2 in US dollars (excluding Venezuela due to data quality) as provided by Oxford Economics. The resulting aggregate is then re-based to 100 on January 1973. US 3m T-bill total returns constructed using cumulative returns based on 3-month US T-bill yields and also rebased to 100 on January 1973. Gold based on the LBMA Gold Price PM USD.

Diversification that works

The benefits of diversification are widely acknowledged – but it is hard to find effective diversifiers. Many assets become increasingly correlated as market uncertainty rises and volatility is more pronounced, driven in part by risk-on/risk-off investment decisions. As a result, many so-called diversifiers fail to protect portfolios when investors need them most.  

Gold is different in that its negative correlation to equities and other risk assets generally increases as these assets sell off (Chart 7). The GFC is a case in point. Equities and other risk assets tumbled in value, as did hedge funds, real estate and most commodities, which were long deemed portfolio diversifiers. Gold, by contrast, held its own and increased in price, rising 21% in US dollars from December 2007 to February 2009.18 And in the most recent sharp equity market pullbacks of 2018 and 2020, gold performance remained positive.19

This robust performance is perhaps not surprising. With few exceptions, gold has been particularly effective during times of systemic risk, delivering positive returns and reducing overall portfolio losses (Chart 8, p7). Importantly too, gold allows investors to meet liabilities when less liquid assets in their portfolio are difficult to sell, or possibly mispriced. 

But gold’s correlation does not just work for investors during periods of turmoil. It can also deliver positive correlation with equities and other risk assets in positive markets, making gold a well-rounded efficient hedge  
(Chart 9, p7), (see Gold: an efficient hedge).

This dual benefit arises from gold’s dual nature: as both an investment and a consumer good (Chart 18, p13). As such, the long-term performance of gold is supported by income growth. Our analysis bears this out, showing that when equities rally strongly, their correlation to gold can increase. This is most likely driven by a wealth-effect supporting gold consumer demand, as well as demand from investors seeking protection against higher inflation expectations.

Gold has consistently benefited from “flight-to-quality” inflows during periods of heightened risk.

 

Chart 7: Gold has been more negatively correlated with equities in extreme market selloffs than commodities and US treasuries

Gold has been more negatively correlated with equities in extreme market selloffs than commodities and US treasurie

Correlation of US equities versus gold, commodities and US treasuries in various environments of US equity market performance since 1973*

Gold has been more negatively correlated with equities in extreme market selloffs than commodities and US treasurie
Correlation of US equities versus gold, commodities and US treasuries in various environments of US equity market performance since 1973*
Sources: Bloomberg, ICE Benchmark Administration, World Gold Council *As of 31 December 2020. Correlations based on weekly returns in US dollars for ‘US equities’: S&P 500 Index; ‘commodities’: Bloomberg Commodity Index; ‘US treasuries’: Bloomberg Barclays US Treasury Index and ‘gold’ LBMA Gold Price PM since January 1973 due to US treasury availability of data. The top bar corresponds to the unconditional correlation over the full period. The middle bar corresponds to the respective correlations when the S&P 500 weekly return falls by more than two standard deviations (or ‘σ’), while the bottom bar corresponds to the respective correlation when the S&P 500 weekly return falls by more than three standard deviations. The standard deviation for the S&P 500 is calculated using weekly returns over the full period. Source: On Goldhub.com: Gold correlation.

来源: 彭博社, 洲际交易所基准管理机构, 世界黄金协会; 版权和其他权利

*As of 31 December 2020. Correlations based on weekly returns in US dollars for ‘US equities’: S&P 500 Index; ‘commodities’: Bloomberg Commodity Index; ‘US treasuries’: Bloomberg Barclays US Treasury Index and ‘gold’ LBMA Gold Price PM since January 1973 due to US treasury availability of data. 
The top bar corresponds to the unconditional correlation over the full period. The middle bar corresponds to the respective correlations when the S&P 500 weekly return falls by more than two standard deviations (or ‘σ’), while the bottom bar corresponds to the respective correlation when the S&P 500 weekly return falls by more than three standard deviations. The standard deviation for the S&P 500 is calculated using weekly returns over the full period. 

Source: On Goldhub.com: Gold correlation.

Gold behaves – and is used – as a safe-haven in periods of
systemic risk…

 

Chart 8: The gold price tends to increase in periods of systemic risk

The gold price tends to increase in periods of systemic risk

US equities, treasuries and gold versus the VIX index*

The gold price tends to increase in periods of systemic risk
US equities, treasuries and gold versus the VIX index*
Sources: Bloomberg, ICE Benchmark Administration, World Gold Council *As of 31 December 2020. Return computations in US dollars for ‘US equities’: S&P 500 Index; ‘US treasuries’: Bloomberg Barclays US Treasury Index; ‘gold’: LBMA Gold Price PM; and ‘VIX’: Cboe VIX Index. The VIX is available only after January 1990. For events occurring prior to that date annualised 30-day S&P 500 volatility is used as a proxy. Dates used: Black Monday: 9/1987 - 11/1987; LTCM: 8/1998; Dot-com: 3/2000 - 3/2001; September 11: 9/2001; 2002 recession: 3/2002 - 7/2002; global financial crisis (GFC): 10/2007 - 2/2009; Sovereign debt crisis I: 1/2010 - 6/2010; Sovereign debt crisis II: 2/2011 - 10/2011; Brexit: 23/6/2016 – 27/6/ 2016; 2018 pullback: 10/2018 - 12/2018; 2020 pullback: 31/1/2020 – 31/3/2020.

来源: 彭博社, 洲际交易所基准管理机构, 世界黄金协会; 版权和其他权利

*As of 31 December 2020. Return computations in US dollars for ‘US equities’: S&P 500 Index; ‘US treasuries’: Bloomberg Barclays US Treasury Index; ‘gold’: LBMA Gold Price PM; and ‘VIX’: Cboe VIX Index. The VIX is available only after January 1990. For events occurring prior to that date annualised 30-day S&P 500 volatility is used as a proxy. Dates used: Black Monday: 9/1987 - 11/1987; LTCM: 8/1998; Dot-com: 3/2000 - 3/2001; September 11: 9/2001; 2002 recession: 3/2002 - 7/2002; global financial crisis (GFC): 10/2007 - 2/2009; Sovereign debt crisis I: 1/2010 - 6/2010; Sovereign debt crisis II: 2/2011 - 10/2011; Brexit: 23/6/2016 – 27/6/ 2016; 2018 pullback: 10/2018 - 12/2018; 2020 pullback: 31/1/2020 – 31/3/2020.

Asset Performance during market
sell-off*
Performance during market
recovery*
  Average Median Average Median
Gold 10% 7% 25% 6%
US treasuries 11% 10% 13% 5%

*Average and median returns using data and time horizons as in Charts 8 and 9.

Source: Bloomberg, ICE Benchmark Administration, World Gold Council
 

…but also performs well in market recoveries.

 

Chart 9: Gold prices perform well following the period after a systemic selloff and its subsequent recovery

Gold prices perform well following the period after a systemic selloff and its subsequent recovery

Performance of gold and treasuries from the market trough (bottom) to the market recovery point (equity market levels before the systemic selloff)

Gold prices perform well following the period after a systemic selloff and its subsequent recovery
Performance of gold and treasuries from the market trough (bottom) to the market recovery point (equity market levels before the systemic selloff)
Sources: Bloomberg, ICE Benchmark Administration, World Gold Council * As of 31 December 2020. Return computations in US dollars for ‘US treasuries’: Bloomberg Barclays US Treasury Index; ‘gold’: LBMA Gold Price PM. Dates used are based off the end dates of Chart 8. Post Black Monday: 11/1987 - 6/1989; Post LTCM: 8/1998 - 11/1998; Post dot-com: 3/2001 – 5/2007; Post 9/11: 9/2001 – 11/2001; Post 2002 recession: 7/2002 – 11/2004; Post GFC: 2/2009 - 1/2013; Post sovereign debt crisis I: 6/2010 - 10/2010; Post sovereign debt crisis II: 10/2011 – 2/2012; Post Brexit: 6/2016 - 7/2016; Post 2018 pullback: 12/2018 – 6/2019; Post 2020 pullback: 3/2020 – 7/2020. **The bar is truncated for the Dot-com bubble recovery due to its extreme differential between others and visibility.

来源: 彭博社, 洲际交易所基准管理机构, 世界黄金协会; 版权和其他权利

* As of 31 December 2020. Return computations in US dollars for ‘US treasuries’: Bloomberg Barclays US Treasury Index; ‘gold’: LBMA Gold Price PM. Dates used are based off the end dates of Chart 8. Post Black Monday: 11/1987 - 6/1989; Post LTCM: 8/1998 - 11/1998; Post dot-com: 3/2001 – 5/2007; Post 9/11: 9/2001 – 11/2001; Post 2002 recession: 7/2002 – 11/2004; Post GFC: 2/2009 - 1/2013; Post sovereign debt crisis I: 6/2010 - 10/2010; Post sovereign debt crisis II: 10/2011 – 2/2012; Post Brexit: 6/2016 - 7/2016; Post 2018 pullback: 12/2018 – 6/2019; Post 2020 pullback: 3/2020 – 7/2020.
**The bar is truncated for the Dot-com bubble recovery due to its extreme differential between others and visibility.
 

A deep and liquid market

The gold market is large, global and highly liquid. 

We estimate that physical gold holdings by investors and central banks are worth approximately US$4.8tn, with an additional US$1.1tn in open interest through derivatives traded on exchanges or the over-the-counter (OTC) market (Chart 16a p12).

The gold market is also more liquid than several major financial markets, including US T-bills, euro/yen and the Dow Jones Industrial Average, while trading volumes are similar to those of the S&P 500 (Chart 10).  Gold’s trading volumes averaged approximately US$180bn per day in 2020. During that period, OTC spot and derivatives contracts accounted for US$110bn and gold futures traded US$69bn per day across various global exchanges. Gold-backed ETFs (gold ETFs) offer an additional source of liquidity, with the largest US-listed funds trading an average of US$3bn per day (Chart 11).

The scale and depth of the market mean that it can comfortably accommodate large, buy-and-hold institutional investors. In stark contrast to many financial markets, gold’s liquidity does not dry up, even at times of financial stress, making it a much less volatile asset (Chart 12). 

 

Chart 10: Gold trades more than many other major financial assets*

Relevance of Gold 2021: Chart 10 - US

One-year average trading volumes of various major assets in US dollars*

来源: 彭博社, 国际清算银行, 英国债务管理局(DMO), 德国金融机关, 日本证券业协会, 纳斯达克, 世界黄金协会; 版权和其他权利

*Average daily volumes from 31 December 2010 to 31 December 2020, except for currencies that correspond to March 2019 volumes due to data availability.
**Gold liquidity includes estimates of OTC transactions and published statistics on futures exchanges, and gold-backed exchange-traded products. 

On Goldhub.com see: Gold trading volumes.

 

Chart 11: Gold is liquid across key investment platforms

Gold is liquid across key investment platforms

Average daily trading volume by point of access in 2020*

 

Gold is liquid across key investment platforms
Average daily trading volume by point of access in 2020*
Sources: Bloomberg, Nasdaq, World Gold Council *Average daily trading volume from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020 Gold liquidity includes estimates of over-the-counter (OTC) transactions and published statistics on futures exchanges, and gold-backed exchange-traded products. For more information, see Gold trading volumes on Goldhub.com.

来源: 彭博社, 纳斯达克, 世界黄金协会; 版权和其他权利

*Average daily trading volume from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020
Gold liquidity includes estimates of over-the-counter (OTC) transactions and published statistics on futures exchanges, and gold-backed exchange-traded products. For more information, see Gold trading volumes on Goldhub.com.

 

 

Chart 12: Gold has been less volatile than many equity indices, alternatives and commodities because of its scale, liquidity and diverse sources of demand

Gold has been less volatile than many equity indices, alternatives and commodities because of its scale, liquidity and diverse sources of demand

Average daily volatility of several major assets since 2000*

Gold has been less volatile than many equity indices, alternatives and commodities because of its scale, liquidity and diverse sources of demand
Average daily volatility of several major assets since 2000*
Sources: Bloomberg, COMEX , World Gold Council *Annualised volatility is computed based on daily returns in US dollars between 31 December 2000 and 31 December 2020. Computations in US Dollar Spot of total return indices for S&P 500 INDEX, MSCI Daily TR Gross EM USD, MSCI AC World Daily TR Gross USD, LBMA Gold Price PM USD, Bloomberg Commodity Index Total Return, LBMA Silver Price - Price/USD, Bloomberg WTI Crude Oil Subindex Total Return, Bloomberg Barclays Global-Aggregate Total Return Index Value Unhedged USD, S&P GSCI Copper Official Close Index TR, S&P GSCI Platinum Index TR ,FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index - Kuala Lumpur Composite Index, Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI Index, Straits Times Index STI. On Goldhub.com see: Gold volatility

来源: 彭博社, 纽约商品交易所, 世界黄金协会; 版权和其他权利

*Annualised volatility is computed based on daily returns in US dollars between 31 December 2000 and 31 December 2020. Computations in US Dollar Spot of total return indices for S&P 500 INDEX, MSCI Daily TR Gross EM USD, MSCI AC World Daily TR Gross USD, LBMA Gold Price PM USD, Bloomberg Commodity Index Total Return, LBMA Silver Price - Price/USD, Bloomberg WTI Crude Oil Subindex Total Return, Bloomberg Barclays Global-Aggregate Total Return Index Value Unhedged USD, S&P GSCI Copper Official Close Index TR, S&P GSCI Platinum Index TR ,FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index - Kuala Lumpur Composite Index, Korea Stock Exchange KOSPI Index, Straits Times Index STI.

On Goldhub.com see: Gold volatility
 

Enhanced portfolio performance

Long-term returns, liquidity and effective diversification all benefit overall portfolio performance. In combination, they suggest that the addition of gold can materially enhance a portfolio’s risk-adjusted returns. 

Our analysis of investment performance over the past five, 10 and 20 years underlines gold’s positive impact on an institutional portfolio. It shows that the US pension fund average portfolio would have achieved higher risk-adjusted returns and lower drawdowns if 2.5%, 5% or 10% were allocated to gold (Chart 13 and Table 1). This positive impact has been particularly marked since the GFC.

In addition to traditional back-testing, a more robust optimisation analysis based on ‘re-sampled efficiency’ 20 suggests that an allocation to gold may result in a material enhancement to portfolio performance. For example, gold allocations between 2% and 10% across well-diversified US dollar-based portfolios with varying levels of risk could result in higher risk-adjusted returns (Chart 14, p10). 

The ‘optimal’ amount of gold varies according to individual asset allocation decisions. Broadly speaking, the analysis suggests that the higher the risk in the portfolio – whether in terms of volatility, illiquidity or concentration of assets – the larger the required allocation to gold, within the range in consideration, to offset that risk (Chart 14 p10).

Our analysis also indicates that gold’s optimal weight in these hypothetical portfolios can be statistically significant even if investors assume an annual return for gold of between 2% and 4% – well below long-term historical performance. This works equally for investors who already hold other inflation-hedging assets, such as inflation-linked bonds,21 and for investors who hold alternative assets, such as real estate, private equity and hedge funds.22

 

Chart 13: Adding gold over the past decade would have increased risk-adjusted returns of a hypothetical US pension fund portfolio

Adding gold over the past decade would have increased risk-adjusted returns of a hypothetical US pension fund portfolio

Performance of a hypothetical US pension fund (PF) average portfolio with and without gold*

Adding gold over the past decade would have increased risk-adjusted returns of a hypothetical US pension fund portfolio
Performance of a hypothetical US pension fund (PF) average portfolio with and without gold*
Sources: Bloomberg, ICE Benchmark Administration, World Gold Council *Based on US dollar performance between 31 December 2010 and 31 December 2020. The hypothetical US pension fund average portfolio is based on Willis Towers Watson Global Pension Assets Study 2019 and Global Alternatives Survey 2017. It includes quarterly-rebalanced total returns of a 42% allocation to equities (27% MSCI USA Net Total Return, 15% MSCI ACWI ex US), 28% allocation to fixed income (21% Barclays US Aggregate, 3% Barclays Global Aggregate ex US, 1% JPMorgan EM Global Bond Index and 3% short-term Treasuries), and 30% alternative assets (13% FTSE REITs Index, 8% HFRI Hedge Fund Index, 8% S&P Private Equity Index and 1% Bloomberg Commodity Index). The allocation to gold comes from proportionally reducing all assets. Risk-adjusted returns are calculated as the annualised return/annualised volatility. See important disclaimers and disclosures at the end of this report.

来源: 彭博社, 洲际交易所基准管理机构, 世界黄金协会; 版权和其他权利

*Based on US dollar performance between 31 December 2010 and 31 December 2020. The hypothetical US pension fund average portfolio is based on Willis Towers Watson Global Pension Assets Study 2019 and Global Alternatives Survey 2017. It includes quarterly-rebalanced total returns of a 42% allocation to equities (27% MSCI USA Net Total Return, 15% MSCI ACWI ex US), 28% allocation to fixed income (21% Barclays US Aggregate, 3% Barclays Global Aggregate ex US, 1% JPMorgan EM Global Bond Index and 3% short-term Treasuries), and 30% alternative assets (13% FTSE REITs Index, 8% HFRI Hedge Fund Index, 8% S&P Private Equity Index and 1% Bloomberg Commodity Index). The allocation to gold comes from proportionally reducing all assets. Risk-adjusted returns are calculated as the annualised return/annualised volatility. See important disclaimers and disclosures at the end of this report.

Table 1: Gold has increased risk-adjusted returns while reducing portfolio volatility and maximum drawdowns

Comparison of an hypothetical US pension fund (PF) average portfolio and an equivalent portfolio with 5% gold over the past one, five, 10 and 20 years based on US-dollar returns*

  20-year 10-year 5-year 1-year
  No gold 5% gold No gold 5% gold No gold 5% gold No gold 5% gold
Annualised return 6.77% 7.02% 7.95% 7.79% 9.12% 9.36% 10.33% 11.18%
Annualised volatility 10.73% 10.33% 9.57% 9.26% 10.61% 10.13% 19.49% 18.58%
Risk-adjusted returns 0.63 0.67 0.83 0.84 0.85 0.92 0.53 0.60
Maximum drawdown -42.35% -39.97% -16.11% -15.19% -16.11% -15.19% -16.11% -15.19%

*As of 31 December 2020. The hypothetical PF average portfolio and weights are based on Willis Towers Watson Global Pension Assets Study 2019 and Global Alternatives Survey 2017 and as described in Chart 13. Risk-adjusted returns are calculated as the annualised return/annualised volatility. Maximum drawdown is calculated as the largest fall in a portfolio before the total value reaches a previous peak. 

Source: Bloomberg, ICE Benchmark Administration, World Gold Council

 

Chart 14: Gold could significantly improve risk-adjusted portfolio returns across various levels of risk

Gold could significantly improve risk-adjusted portfolio returns across various levels of risk

(a) Long-run optimal allocations based on asset mix*

Gold could significantly improve risk-adjusted portfolio returns across various levels of risk
(a) Long-run optimal allocations based on asset mix*
Sources: World Gold Council Based on monthly US dollar total returns from January 1989 to December 2019 of ICE 3-month Treasury, Bloomberg Barclays US Bond Aggregate, Bloomberg Barclays Global Bond Aggregate ex US, MSCI USA, EAFE and EM net indices, FTSE Nareit Equity REITs Index, Bloomberg Commodity Index, and spot returns of LBMA Gold Price PM. Each hypothetical portfolio composition reflects a percentage in equity (“Eqty”), alternative assets (“Alts”), cash and bonds (“FI”). For example: ‘Average pension allocation’ is a portfolio with 42% in equities, 30% in REITs, hedge funds, private equity and commodities, and 28% in cash and bonds. Analysis based on New Frontier Advisors Resampled Efficiency. For more information see Efficient Asset Management: A Practical Guide to Stock Portfolio Optimization and Asset Allocation, Oxford University Press, January 2008. See important disclaimers and disclosures at the end of this report.

来源: 世界黄金协会; 版权和其他权利

* Based on monthly total returns from January 1990 to December 2019 of ICE 3-month Treasury, Bloomberg Barclays US Bond Aggregate, Bloomberg Barclays Global Bond Aggregate ex US, MSCI US, EAFE and EM indices, FTSE Nareit Equity REITs Index, Bloomberg Commodity Index and spot returns of LBMA Gold Price PM. Each hypothetical portfolio composition is roughly equivalent to the portfolio in Chart 7. That portfolio reflectsreflects a percentage in stock (Eqty), alternative assets (Alts), cash and bonds (FI). For example: ‘Average pension allocation’ is a portfolio with 42% in stocks, 30% in REITs, hedge funds, private equity and commodities, and 28% in cash and bonds. Analysis based on New Frontier Advisors Resampled Efficiency. For more information see Efficient Asset Management: A Practical Guide to Stock Portfolio Optimization and Asset Allocation, Oxford University Press, January 2008. See important disclaimers and disclosures at the end of this report.

 

Gold could significantly improve risk-adjusted portfolio returns across various levels of risk

(b) Range of gold allocations and the allocation that delivers the maximum risk-adjusted return for each hypothetical portfolio mix*

Gold could significantly improve risk-adjusted portfolio returns across various levels of risk
(b) Range of gold allocations and the allocation that delivers the maximum risk-adjusted return for each hypothetical portfolio mix*
Sources: World Gold Council Based on monthly US dollar total returns from January 1989 to December 2019 of ICE 3-month Treasury, Bloomberg Barclays US Bond Aggregate, Bloomberg Barclays Global Bond Aggregate ex US, MSCI USA, EAFE and EM net indices, FTSE Nareit Equity REITs Index, Bloomberg Commodity Index, and spot returns of LBMA Gold Price PM. Each hypothetical portfolio composition reflects a percentage in equity (“Eqty”), alternative assets (“Alts”), cash and bonds (“FI”). For example: ‘Average pension allocation’ is a portfolio with 42% in equities, 30% in REITs, hedge funds, private equity and commodities, and 28% in cash and bonds. Analysis based on New Frontier Advisors Resampled Efficiency. For more information see Efficient Asset Management: A Practical Guide to Stock Portfolio Optimization and Asset Allocation, Oxford University Press, January 2008. See important disclaimers and disclosures at the end of this report.

来源: 世界黄金协会; 版权和其他权利

*Based on monthly US dollar total returns from January 1989 to December 2019 of ICE 3-month Treasury, Bloomberg Barclays US Bond Aggregate, Bloomberg Barclays Global Bond Aggregate ex US, MSCI USA, EAFE and EM net indices, FTSE Nareit Equity REITs Index, Bloomberg Commodity Index, and spot returns of LBMA Gold Price PM. Each hypothetical portfolio composition reflects a percentage in equity (“Eqty”), alternative assets (“Alts”), cash and bonds (“FI”). For example: ‘Average pension allocation’ is a portfolio with 42% in equities, 30% in REITs, hedge funds, private equity and commodities, and 28% in cash and bonds. Analysis based on New Frontier Advisors Resampled Efficiency. For more information see Efficient Asset Management: A Practical Guide to Stock Portfolio Optimization and Asset Allocation, Oxford University Press, January 2008. 

See important disclaimers and disclosures at the end of this report.
 

Focus 1: Gold—Not your average commodity

Gold is often part of the broad commodity complex: as a component of a commodity index, a holding in an ETF, or a future trading on a commodity exchange. While gold shares some similarities with commodities, there are several important differences:

  • gold is traditionally seen as a safe-haven asset
  • gold is both an investment and a consumer good
  • the supply of gold is balanced, deep and broad
  • gold does not degrade over time, unlike most traditional commodities.

These attributes set gold apart from the commodity complex. And our research suggests that a distinct allocation to gold could enhance the performance of portfolios with passive commodity exposures.23  

Recently, developments in the performance and liquidity of gold have led two major commodity indices (S&P GSCI and Bloomberg Commodity Indices) to increase their weighting of gold for a second year in a row.24 In 2020, gold had the largest individual commodity weight increase in the S&P GSCI Index and will have its highest weight ever in the Bloomberg Commodity Index. Yet, our analysis suggests that allocations to gold in these commodity indices remain below their optimal weight.25

 

Chart 15: Gold has outperformed all broad-based indices and their individual commodity components

Gold has outperformed all broad-based indices and their individual commodity components

Average annual returns of commodity indices and key individual commodities over the past 20 years*

Gold has outperformed all broad-based indices and their individual commodity components
Average annual returns of commodity indices and key individual commodities over the past 20 years*
Sources: Bloomberg, World Gold Council; Disclaimer *Annualised average returns from 31 December 2000 to 31 December 2020. Computations in US dollars of total return indices for S&P GSCI Agriculture Official Close Index, Bloomberg Commodity Index, S&P GSCI Copper Official Close Index, S&P GSCI Grains Official Close Index, LBMA Silver Price, S&P GSCI Livestock, S&P GSCI Platinum Index, S&P GSCI Total Return CME, LBMA Gold Price PM.

来源: 彭博社, 世界黄金协会; 版权和其他权利

*Annualised average returns from 31 December 2000 to 31 December 2020. Computations in US dollars of total return indices for S&P GSCI Agriculture Official Close Index, Bloomberg Commodity Index, S&P GSCI Copper Official Close Index, S&P GSCI Grains Official Close Index, LBMA Silver Price, S&P GSCI Livestock, S&P GSCI Platinum Index, S&P GSCI Total Return CME, LBMA Gold Price PM.

Focus 2: Gold is an ESG investment

We believe that gold should be considered an ESG-compliant asset. While gold mining is an extractive industry with an impact on the environment, responsible gold miners mitigate risks and contribute heavily to the communities and host countries they operate in, through the likes of direct investments, improvements to infrastructure, access to healthcare and schooling, and much more. 

This is demonstrated through the gold mining industry’s contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Our members are committed to the Responsible Gold Mining Principles (RGMPs), launched by the World Gold Council in 2019. The RGMPs are an ambitious set of 51 individual principles that cover all material aspects of ESG related to gold mining and set clear expectations for the entire gold mining industry. Conformance with these Principles will need to be publicly disclosed, with third-party assurance on this disclosure. 

In addition, we believe gold can play an important role as a climate-risk mitigating asset within an investment portfolio. Our analysis suggests that gold has the potential to perform better than most mainstream asset classes under various long-term climate scenarios.

Gold may lower the carbon footprint of an investment portfolio over time, as carbon emissions associated with holding physical gold are minimal. Our research suggests that, unlike many other commodities, over 99% of greenhouse gas emissions associated with gold occur during the mining and milling process; and significant progress is already being made to remove greenhouse gas emissions from these processes, with opportunities to further de-carbonise.28

 

Sensitivity of annual returns

Sensitivity of annual returns

Sensitivity of annual returns
Sources: Anthesis, World Gold Council; Disclaimer

来源: Anthesis, 世界黄金协会; 版权和其他权利

Conclusion

Perceptions of gold have changed substantially over the past two decades, reflecting increased wealth in the East and a growing worldwide appreciation of gold’s role within an institutional investment portfolio. 

Gold’s unique attributes as a scarce, highly liquid, and un-correlated asset demonstrate that it can act as a diversifier over the long term. Gold’s position as an investment and a luxury good has allowed it to deliver average returns of nearly 11% over the past 50 years, comparable to equities and more than bonds and commodities.26, 27 

Gold’s traditional role as a safe-haven asset means it comes into its own during times of high risk. But gold’s dual appeal as an investment and a consumer good means it can generate positive returns in good times too. This dynamic is likely to continue, reflecting ongoing political and economic uncertainty, persistently low interest rates and economic concerns surrounding equity and bond markets. 

Overall, extensive analysis suggests that adding between 2% and 10% of gold to a US-dollar-based portfolio can make a tangible improvement to performance and boost risk-adjusted returns on a sustainable, long-term basis.29 

Download The relevance of gold as a strategic asset 2021, full report:

1Oxford Economics is a leader in global forecasting and quantitative analysis and a specialist in modelling. Visit QaurumSM for important disclosures about Oxford Economics’ data, as well as a detailed description of the available scenarios; the assumptions underlying and data used for each scenario; and its respective hypothetical impact on gold demand, supply and performance.

2Mercer European Asset Allocation Insights 2020, August 2020

3Refinitiv, How do ESG scores relate to financial returns, August 2020.

4Gold and climate change: Current and future impacts, October 2019

5An institutional investor holds and/or manages assets for clients in larger, pooled portfolios often represented as mutual funds, banks, brokerages, hedge funds, etc.

6Willis Towers Watson, Global Pension Assets Study 2021, February 2021 and Global Alternatives Survey 2017, July 2017.

731 December 2000 to 31 December 2020.

8See Chart 13 on p9 for more details behind the composition of the hypothetical US pension fund average portfolio. Based on 2000 – 2020. In addition, refer to important disclaimers and disclosures at the end of this report.

9January 1971 – December 2020.

10During the gold standard, the US dollar was backed by gold, and the foreign currency exchange rates were dictated by the Bretton Woods System. In August 1971, the Nixon Administration announced the halt of the free conversion between the US dollar and gold catalysing the collapse of the gold standard and, subsequently, the Bretton Woods system.

11For other return metrics and performance see Appendix II on page 17.

12See Chart 18a, on page 15.

13Based on average annual CPI changes for the US (3.9%) and world (9.3%) as measured by the IMF from December 1971 – December 2020.

14Oxford Economics, The impact of inflation and deflation on the case for gold, July 2011.

15Ibid footnote 9.

16From December 2001 – December 2020. See the Demand and Supply section at Goldhub.com.

17For more information please see The impact of monetary policy on gold and It may be time to replace bonds with gold.

18Based on the LBMA Gold Price PM from 1 December 2007 to 27 February 2009.

19Based on the LBMA Gold Price PM from 1 October 2018 to 27 December 2018 and from 31 January 2020 to 31 March 2020.

20Re-sampled efficiency is a methodology developed by Richard and Robert Michaud and praised as a robust alternative to traditional mean-variance optimisation. See Efficient Asset Management: A Practical Guide to Stock Portfolio Optimization and Asset Allocation, Oxford University Press, January 2008.

21Gold as a tactical inflation hedge and long-term strategic asset, July 2009, July 2009.

22Enhancing the performance of alternatives with gold, February 2018.

23See: Gold: the most effective commodity investment, and Gold: metal by design, currency by nature, Gold Investor, Volume 6, June 2014.

24For more information on the gold weight increases see: Major commodity indices will increase gold weightings for a second year in a row.

25Gold: the most effective commodity investment, September 2019.

26Average annualised returns in US dollars from January 1971to December 2020.

27See Chart 22 p17.

28The Greenhouse Gas Protocol, Ecoinvent database. Please see Gold and climate change: Current and future impacts and Gold and climate change: An introduction.

29See Chart 13, p9

Important disclaimers and disclosures

© 2021 World Gold Council. All rights reserved. World Gold Council and the Circle device are trademarks of the World Gold Council or its affiliates.
All references to LBMA Gold Price are used with the permission of ICE Benchmark Administration Limited and have been provided for informational purposes only. ICE Benchmark Administration Limited accepts no liability or responsibility for the accuracy of the prices or the underlying product to which the prices may be referenced. Other content is the intellectual property of the respective third party and all rights are reserved to them. 

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Neither the World Gold Council nor any of its affiliates (collectively, “WGC”) guarantees the accuracy or completeness of any information. WGC does not accept responsibility for any losses or damages arising directly or indirectly from the use of this information.

This information is for educational purposes only. Nothing contained herein is intended to constitute a recommendation, investment advice, or offer for the purchase or sale of gold, any gold-related products or services or any other products, services, securities or financial instruments (collectively, “Services”). This information does not take into account any investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person.    

By receiving this information, you agree with the intended purpose of this information as being for educational purposes only.  Diversification does not guarantee any investment returns and does not eliminate the risk of loss.    

Investors should discuss their individual circumstances with their appropriate investment professionals before making any decision regarding any Services or investments.

This information contains forward-looking statements, such as statements which use the words “believes”, “expects”, “may”, or “suggests”, or similar terminology, which are based on current expectations and are subject to change. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements will be achieved. WGC assumes no responsibility for updating any forward-looking statements.

Information regarding QaurumSM and the Gold Valuation Framework 

Note that the resulting performance of various investment outcomes that can generated through use of Qaurum, the Gold Valuation Framework and other information are hypothetical in nature, may not reflect actual investment results and are not guarantees of future results. Diversification does not guarantee investment returns and does not eliminate the risk of loss.  World Gold Council and its affiliates and subsidiaries (collectively, “WGC”) provide no warranty or guarantee regarding the functionality of the tool, including without limitation any projections, estimates or calculations.