Gold is something that humans have coveted for thousands of years, and there once was a time when the value of currencies was intrinsically linked to the value of gold. Countries needed to back their currency with the same value of gold when the world operated under the gold standard. The world abandoned the gold standard many years ago, but the value of gold still affects the value of currencies. Below are some ways that the gold affects the value of worldwide currencies to help you better understand how the two are linked.

Gold Was Used To Back Up Currencies

When the gold standard was used, a country could not print currency as and when they wanted to, unless they had the gold reserves to back their money up. There needed to be the same value of gold help as the value of the currency you will print, which is why all countries held reserves of gold bullion. Governments still have reserves of gold, but they no longer need to back up their currency by having the same value of bullion as currency in circulation.

Gold: An Excellent Hedge Against Inflation

You tend to find that when there are times when inflation is on the rise, the value of gold also increases. For this reason, many people consider gold as an excellent hedge against inflation, and traditionally, its value will increase over time, making it a relatively safe investment. Gold retains its value much better than other forms of currency, so it may be something you want to add to your investment portfolio. When investing, you will want to check out the available Brisbane gold for sale at reputable dealers and make your purchase. Don’t forget to compare the commission rates before spending your money.

Measure The Value Of Currencies

Some people will use gold to measure the value of a currency to judge how it is performing, which is very common. However, although the value of gold and currencies are linked, it is not as simple as looking at how much gold the currency will buy and comparing it to other currencies. The value of fiat currencies and gold is not always inversive, and some factors can affect this relationship. For example, if an industry such as electronics requires large volumes of gold for its production, it can force the price of gold higher but not give a true reflection on the value of the local currency.

You also find that countries that import and export a lot of gold can be affected when gold's price jumps or falls. If a country has large reserves of gold or produces lots of gold, this can positively affect the value of its currency. As the price of gold rises, the value of their currency can also rise, allowing countries to create a trade surplus or offset a deficit. For the countries that import the majority of their gold, their currencies are weaker when the price of gold increases. When it comes to currencies, it is a finely balanced system, and many factors can affect them, so before investing, you need to educate yourself about gold and foreign currencies.