Is Gold considered as investment or insurance?

Most of us have been through Lehman 2008 (some just entered the market in 2009), SARS 2003, 911, NASDAQ 2000. I was not in the market during Asian 97, but I think that roller coaster must be more terrifying than 2008! More senior forum members may even remember Black Monday 87!

In 2008, ALL asset classes tanked; with the exception of US treasuries.

In March 2009, just take your best stock pick and benchmark with property, gold, and other asset classes and we have our own personal answer as to which outperform what

I guess it depends a lot which "value" company we have picked since most of us believe we can outperform the STI index

I wished I had the foresight to switch to bonds in 2008 and then back to equities in March 2009. I believe that's how one teacher got rich - asset allocation/rotation; not buy and hold.

This time round, I don''t think the bond trick will work... History does not repeat itself; but it rhymes!

So can anyone tell me which asset class will fall less than the rest if Iran got bombed?

Thanks Behappyalways!

I'll be right after you in the UOB queue

I think I need some gold to complement and act as anchor to my silver.

Silver is fun when it bounces up. But boy, when it falls... Too much excitement! LOL!

Recent weeks have been uneasy. Maybe it got to do with the Goldsmith strike in India which just ended.

(09-04-2012, 09:23 PM)Jared Seah Wrote: Thanks Behappyalways!

I'll be right after you in the UOB queue

I think I need some gold to complement and act as anchor to my silver.

Silver is fun when it bounces up. But boy, when it falls... Too much excitement! LOL!

Does the UOB Gold acct add 7% GST in the Gold Price? If it does, perhaps can wait till 1st Oct, but pray in the meantime Gold Price don't appreciate by more than 7%!

GST Exemption on Investment-grade Gold and Precious Metals

i used to have an UOB gold trading account in the 1980s. i still keep the receipts after converting all my holdings into mini-gold bars. When gold price goes up like crazy not long ago, i can't resist to tally all my gold trading receipts which i keep at home. when i went to check my mini-gold bars in the bank's safety deposit box, i were taken aback. i have much less than what my receipts say i should have. i must be a poor book-keeper of tracking my trading receipts lol.

No. UOB Gold and Silver accounts do not incur the GST.

Another option is the SPDR Gold ETF.

For doom's day purist, they prefer real physical gold and silver - just in case banks and ETF sponsors go bust... Counter-party risks...
(Like that our savings account also just a piece of paper if the banks go... nowadays no passbook some more!)

The trade off is you pay a higher spread if you want to fondle your physical gold

There must be a reason why MAS wants Singapore to be a physical gold trading hub in Asia. If it makes ownership easier, why not?

If you check with some old people (above 70s), they may still keep Physical Gold at home. In national crisis such as Famine and War which olden days encounter, Physical Gold is a necessity to survive.

(09-04-2012, 10:27 PM)Jared Seah Wrote: No. UOB Gold and Silver accounts do not incur the GST.

Another option is the SPDR Gold ETF.

For doom's day purist, they prefer real physical gold and silver - just in case banks and ETF sponsors go bust... Counter-party risks...
(Like that our savings account also just a piece of paper if the banks go... nowadays no passbook some more!)

The trade off is you pay a higher spread if you want to fondle your physical gold

There must be a reason why MAS wants Singapore to be a physical gold trading hub in Asia. If it makes ownership easier, why not?

i think it will trigger GST if you convert into physical gold. 1980s no GST.

Wow Temperament!

Quiet, quiet.

Already hoarding gold since the 1980s!!!

You bought after gold crashed from it's 1980 high

Assuming your average cost is conservative USD 300 per ounce, 5 bagger liao!

P.S. UOB gold and silver accounts - we shall not convert to physical before the new ruling takes effect. I prefer passbook version anyway for my core holding (prevent me from selling too soon). For swing trading, I use ETFs and mini-futures.

(09-04-2012, 10:35 PM)Jared Seah Wrote: Wow Temperament!

Quiet, quiet.

Already hoarding gold since the 1980s!!!

You bought after gold crashed from it's 1980 high

Assuming your average cost is conservative USD 300 per ounce, 5 bagger liao!

Ya lol! but i stupidly traded(sold) more than i realised. Read my above post. So what is the moral of story?