Gold na wise investment for times of financial wahala?

Global gold prices don rise in recent months, hitting record high as traders dey look for safer investments sake of di uncertainty wey dey di markets.

Di precious metal dey traditionally seen as a reliable, tangible asset for times of financial difficulty or instability.

But shey na really a safe one?

While reacting to concerns around US President Donald Trump tariff plans, one of di biggest shifts for global trade policy in a century, di price of gold don hit a record high of ova $3,167 last week.

Records don repeatedly break dis year, sake of concerns ova tariff and trade wars.

Instability dey often see a rise in gold prices.

Wen financial markets fall, sudden "gold rush" fit dey wia large number of buyers seek to purchase di precious metal.

So, who dey buy?

"Either goments, individual investors, or retail investors, pipo dey leave equities [such as shares] massively, and dem dey go into gold," Dr Philip Fliers wey be economic historian from di University of Belfast, tok.

"And dat really push up dose prices."

Gold don traditionally be di 'go-to' metal wen global uncertainty dey for di financial market.

For 2020, di Covid-19 pandemic cause economic downturn and gold prices suddenly go up.

However, uncertainty for di financial markets fit hit gold as well.

For January 2020, as di Covid-19 outbreak emerge, di price of gold go up, but by March dat year e start to drop.

"Say na ''safe' investment no mean say e dey witout risk," Dr Fliers tok.

But gold still get reputation of investment wey pesin fit turn to in times of economic uncertainty, no be only becos of dia value, but also across history and different cultures e don get high value and e dey easy to trade.

From di Gold Mask of Tutankhamun from Ancient Egypt, to di Golden Stool of di Asante for Ghana and di Gold Thrones of Padmanabhaswamy Temple for India, di metal don historically hold religious and symbolic importance.

No be surprise say many pipo look to gold as reliable way to store dia wealth.

Di value of gold items and jewellery wey dey house no dey often dey affected by di shifts of di global financial markets.

But any large investments fit be at di mercy of di actions of big financial players.

"A lot of dis," Dr Fliers tok as e dey refer to di recent rises in gold prices, "I suspect say na becos say goment central banks dey buy up gold".

Dem dey often buy gold in bulk to boost dia reserves as dem shift away from equity investments in times of uncertainty.

Dis mean say investing in di precious metal fit dey dangerous.

"Na still risky strategy to speculate on gold increasing becos as soon as markets calm down, and goments come to dia senses, pipo go leave gold again," Dr Fliers tok.

"I go say tins like investing in gold, you do am for di long run."