Gold As the price of gold hits an all-time high there is a view that rising inflation, a weak US dollar and private investment in the metal could push it even higher
Central bank action to diversify reserves from the dollar has helped push the metal to a new high, but the bull sentiment is not universal, writes Chris Flood
Record-breaking run intact
Precious metals benefit from Midas touch
Further deals for IMF gold anticipated
Asia swaps dollars for bullion
Gold purchases do nothing to change the monstrous growth of reserves in surplus nations, particularly in Asia, which means they also do nothing to address the global macroeconomic imbalances that leaders profess to worry about
The yellow metal is a hedge against the chance that the world’s central banks will prove no better at preventing high inflation than they were at choosing when to sell gold
All that underpins fiat currencies is the belief that governments are credible, and that belief is being tested to its limits, writes Gillian Tett
Peter Munk says the global economy will recover but individual investors have been traumatised, boosting the appeal of gold as a hedge
Ten years ago the UK Treasury sent gold prices tumbling when it announced it would sell a chunk of its gold reserves. A decade later the picture looks different – sales in Europe have slowed to a crawl and fresh demand is emerging elsewhere
A look at what’s behind the global rise in popularity of the metal
The agreement to limit gold sales expires this year and any changes could prove unsettling
