Expert names the most popular investment assets

In recent years, the precious metals market has attracted increasing attention from investors. Like many other assets, they are affected by global economic factors such as currency fluctuations, geopolitical instability and demand for industrial use. Sergey Mikheev, SRO of investment platform UTEX, told Izvestia on February 15 whether the high demand for these assets will remain in 2025.

"In 2025, gold remains one of the most reliable and in-demand investment assets. Despite the high current quotations, analysts note that investments in gold are still attractive for private investors. There are several investment options: buying gold bars and investment coins, opening unallocated metal accounts, participation in exchange-traded mutual funds (ETFs), buying shares of companies engaged in gold mining, as well as trading in futures contracts," he said.

The choice of instrument depends on the investor's strategy, as each has features, advantages and risks. Besides gold, investors can also consider other precious metals such as platinum, silver and palladium. These metals have not only investment value but also industrial value.

"Demand for platinum is traditionally high in the automotive industry (catalysts) as well as in the jewelry industry. The price can fluctuate depending on the economic situation and changes in industry demand. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in environmentally friendly technologies, which also supports platinum demand. Unlike gold, silver is used in a multitude of industrial processes, including electronics, solar panels and medical devices," the expert explained.

A feasible deposit: the average size of Russians' deposits has grown to 500 thousand rubles.

It increased by almost 22% in the past year

Palladium, which is widely used in the automotive industry, has shown significant price growth in recent years. This is due to a shortage of supply and high demand for catalytic converters for gasoline-powered cars. However, as with other metals, the value is subject to fluctuations depending on the state of the global economy and demand for automobiles.

"One of the main factors that affects precious metals investments is inflation. In countries with high inflation, precious metals are a way to protect capital from the depreciation of the local currency. For example, in countries with unstable economies like Latin America, gold often becomes the primary savings currency. Even in countries with low inflation, such as the U.S. and the EU, instability in financial markets and politics can lead to increased demand for precious metals," said the specialist.

For those who decide to invest in precious metals, there are several options. They differ in the level of risk, liquidity and potential profitability: physical metals in the form of coins, bars or jewelry. The direct way of investing is independent of financial institutions, but requires safekeeping and protection. Funds and exchange-traded products that track the value of gold or other precious metals. A more liquid and convenient way of investing that does not require custody of physical assets. Shares of mining companies as an alternative to investing directly in metals. However, in this case, investors run the risk of dealing with fluctuations in the value of the companies' shares, not just movements in the price of metals.

"Investing in gold and other precious metals is quite profitable in conditions of economic instability, high inflation and political risks. It is important to realize that these assets have their own peculiarities and do not always bring quick profits. It is necessary to take into account both global economic and political trends and your own investment objectives and strategy," - summarized Mikheev.

The information in the material is not an investment recommendation.

Last year, on December 29, Capital Lab partner Evgeny Shatov told Izvestia about the advantages of bank deposits. According to him, for depositors a bank deposit is an opportunity to secure their savings, preserve them and even increase them, and for credit organizations - a way to get free funds that will work and bring income.