When should you buy gold?
15/11/2022Daniel Fisher
Free & fully insured UK Delivery. Learn more
Secure & flexible payments. Learn more
Buyback Guarantee Learn more
We often hear, “Is now an optimal time to buy gold?”. Obviously with hindsight, it’s easier to identify periods of time when gold’s value rose the most.
Given its negative correlation to stocks and the global economy, tracking market trends is one way to gauge the ideal time for gold investments.
While attempting to buy at the market’s lowest prices and sell at its highs may sound like a wise strategy, even financial experts agree it’s nearly impossible to achieve perfectly.
Holding gold over the long term has proven over the years to provide a secure store of wealth and outperform inflation.
The rule of thumb is, “It’s not about timing the market, but time in the market.” In other words, a long-term investment in physical gold often yields better returns than trying to time the market’s highs and lows.
CEO Physical Gold
Here are 7 factors to consider when deciding when is the best time to buy gold.
In times of economic uncertainty or financial crisis, gold serves as a reliable hedge against inflation. Timing is about stacking the odds in your favour. By looking at market fundamentals and historical trends, you can choose to invest in assets like gold, which are likely to perform well during certain periods.
Unlike cryptocurrency, gold has existed as an investment for centuries, so we’re able to see how gold has performed before to help predict how it might perform over the next few years.
Gold has a long history and track record, making it easier to predict its performance based on past trends. As a safe-haven asset, investors often turn to gold when the economy is struggling, stocks are falling, and inflation is rising.
Geopolitical tensions can significantly impact gold prices, making it a more attractive investment during uncertain times. Events such as wars, elections, or economic sanctions can create instability, driving investors towards safe-haven assets like gold. Being aware of the global political climate can help you time your investment to capitalise on these price spikes.
Insider Tip:
If you feel the economy is set to struggle, it could be an ideal time to buy gold. But timing is crucial, and being ‘ahead of the curve’ will separate really successful investors from the rest. Buying gold towards the end of a bearish economic cycle will mean that most of gold’s profits during that cycle will already have been missed.
If you believe in the long term status and growth potential of an asset, then buying when investor interest (and prices) in that asset are low, will yield better returns than investing when everyone else is. Counter intuitively, the optimum time in the economic cycle to buy gold can be when its price is floundering and no one else sees the economic crash around the corner.
The price of gold can sometimes be volatile, making it a liquid asset but also a risky one in the short term. It’s important not to panic or get too excited during big weekly price moves. In the short term, the direction of the gold spot price can be impossible to predict. However, over the long term, gold has steadily risen in price.
Gold is known as a great hedge against inflation because it has proven to maintain its purchasing power over the decades when paper currency has fallen in value.
Insider Tip:
While shrewd (or lucky) timing can really boost returns, we’d always encourage you to keep up with the gold forecast and for your gold investment to be a long-term commitment to really reap benefits.
Dollar Cost Averaging (DCA) is a strategy that involves buying little and often, regardless of its price. This approach can be particularly beneficial for timing your gold investments for several reasons:
Insider Tip:
Buying small amounts of gold regularly means you pay full premium on your gold. Quantity discounts are available from dealers when larger amounts are bought.
A twist on the DCA strategy is to keep a cash reserve to buy gold whenever you see a significant price dip. While the gold price may go lower in the short term, buying in tranches can iron out price volatility. Buying in larger amounts, slightly less often will benefit from paying lower premiums on your purchase.
Secondly, gold’s general trend in the long term is upwards. So, in theory, buying as much gold as possible immediately should yield better returns than buying as the price rises.
Free guide to maximise your precious metals returns
While we haven’t observed a clear price trend linked to specific times of the day, some experts argue that the live gold price tends to spike just before the daily LBMA fixes at 10.30am and 3pm. If you believe this to be true, you may wish to buy at other times.
Others claim they see trends when certain markets like Asia or the US open. Major economies, especially the US, still impact the gold market the most.
With that in mind, be prepared for gold prices to move most in the London afternoon if the US releases particularly important economic data.
While it’s challenging to predict the best time to buy gold, historical data suggests certain months may offer better opportunities. For example:
With so many factors influencing the gold price, it’s impossible to identify the exact reasons. But we tend to see investors keen to address finances and investments in January to kick start their year and also an increase in buying for Diwali in the autumn.
Insider Tip:
We often (but not always!) witness prices dipping slightly just before a daily LBMA fix when the price trend for the day is upwards and see it spike prior to the official fix on a downward price trend day. Use this theme to lock in prices around the 10.30am or 3pm fixes.
During certain periods of high demand, the supply of gold coins and gold bullion, in particular, can be tighter than usual. Buying during these times can lead to paying excessive premiums for your gold coins.
Throughout events like the Covid pandemic and subsequent economic fallout, the supply of new coins has struggled to keep up with demand. Even more apparent has been the lack of gold sellers during these times. This has led to premiums on second-hand Sovereigns soaring. To buy at the best prices, focus on buying when supply is abundant.
Insider Tip:
Be flexible with which coins or bars you buy if you’re keen to invest when certain types of gold are in extremely short supply. That way you can still grow your portfolio at the time you want, without being held ransom to spiralling premiums on certain coins.
Use our automated portfolio builder to get suggestions based on various investment objectives.
While making huge investment returns sounds appealing, owning physical gold is primarily about buying security and protection. It offers investors the comfort of owning a physical asset with intrinsic value rather than paper investments that can diminish in value overnight.
Gold acts as an insurance policy to shelter your money from inflation and can increase in value when all your other assets fall.
Insider Tip:
The timing of the next market downturn is impossible to predict with any accuracy. Usually, gold prices spike significantly as soon as news of a black swan event emerges. For this reason, it’s always good to own some gold in preparation for the next down cycle, whenever it may be.
Before you even think about buying gold, sketch out a well-defined exit strategy. Knowing your selling points is as vital as understanding when to buy. This foresight aligns your gold investment with your financial objectives and adds a layer of precision to your market entry.
A robust exit plan should be versatile, adapting to fluctuating market conditions and potential tax ramifications.
By pinpointing when and why you’ll sell, you’re setting the stage to maximise profits and cut losses. This holistic view of both your entry and exit creates a more resilient gold investment strategy, increasing your odds of financial success.
Insider Tip:
Chat to different gold dealers before you invest. It’s important to buy gold from a dealer you feel will provide the best relationship and genuine guidance. Developing this dialogue with the right broker partner will ensure that you work together to sell your gold for the optimum price.
Before diving into the gold market, crystallise your investment goals. Are you in it for the long haul, or are you eyeing short-term profits? Your objectives will dictate your investment approach and influence the ideal timing for entering the gold market.
Understanding your investment goals will help you choose the right vehicle and guide you in asset allocation, risk assessment, and setting realistic expectations for returns.
Once your goals are set, explore the investment options that align with them:
Each option has its own set of pros and cons related to timing, liquidity, and potential returns, so choose the one that aligns with your investment goals.
Diversification isn’t just a financial buzzword; it’s the cornerstone of a balanced investment strategy. Gold’s unique attributes make it a stabilising force in a diversified portfolio.
By understanding the role of gold in a diversified portfolio, you can make more informed decisions about asset allocation, risk management, and long-term investment strategies.
Investing in gold is more than a financial transaction; it’s a nuanced dance influenced by many factors. Your investment strategy should be as unique as you are, tailored to your financial goals, risk tolerance, and market understanding.
The essence of timing your gold investment lies in market speculation and harmonising your financial aspirations with the ever-evolving global economic landscape. It’s about making choices that resonate with your understanding of both immediate market trends and long-term economic fundamentals.
So, when you’re ready to step into the gold market, remember that the most effective strategy is one that’s customised to you. It’s a strategy that honours historical wisdom, navigates the present, and anticipates the future. It’s a strategy that lets you rest easy and confident in your well-timed, individualised investment decision. By approaching your gold investment with this level of depth, you’re not just acquiring an asset but securing a future you can be confident about.
Ready to make a golden move? Need help navigating the complexities of gold investment? Reach out to the experts at Physical Gold today.
Contact us and start your investment journey!
Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about investing in gold and its timing:
If you’re eyeing the calendar, January, August, September, and December have historically been good months for buying gold. Prices tend to go up during these times, so you might catch a good deal.
The “right” time really depends on a bunch of things like what’s happening with the economy, inflation, and what you’re hoping to get out of your investment. So, do your homework and align it with your financial goals.
Gold’s got a solid reputation for being a safe bet over the long haul, especially if you’re looking to protect your wealth from things like inflation. So yeah, it could very well be a smart move in 2023. Just make sure it fits with your overall financial game plan.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here, but some folks suggest steering clear of buying right before the LBMA sets its daily gold price at 10:30 am and 3 pm. Prices can get a bit jumpy then.
Live Gold Spot Price in Sterling. Gold is one of the densest of all metals. It is a good conductor of heat and electricity. It is also soft and the most malleable and ductile of the elements; an ounce (31.1 grams; gold is weighed in troy ounces) can be beaten out to 187 square feet (about 17 square metres) in extremely thin sheets called gold leaf.
Live Silver Spot Price in Sterling. Silver (Ag), chemical element, a white lustrous metal valued for its decorative beauty and electrical conductivity. Silver is located in Group 11 (Ib) and Period 5 of the periodic table, between copper (Period 4) and gold (Period 6), and its physical and chemical properties are intermediate between those two metals.