Gold Prices

I saw news coverage recently that China might be manipulating gold prices.  Today the price was $4097/ounce.  If you bought gold a year ago and sold yesterday you made a pretty penny. If you bought several weeks ago at $4250/ounce, not so much.  Precious metals are inflation hedges.  They are not investments.  There is no return on investment nor is it clear that they even successfully and reliably stay ahead of inflation.