More precious than gold, copper is a better inflation hedge
Copper is a more reliable economic bellwether as it is used in construction and manufacturing
New York
FOR centuries, gold has been a go-to asset among investors worried about all sorts of financial risks. In the past decade, exchange-traded funds backed by the metal drew more money than any other commodity. Even the world's biggest central banks hoard bullion as a reserve asset.
But when it comes to inflation, which can erode the value of portfolios that don't keep pace with rising consumer prices, anyone who bought gold as a hedge over the past 25 years missed out on a much better deal - copper. While data shows that broad commodity indexes provided the best bang for the buck during periods of rising costs in the US, the red metal stands out.
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