Precious metals
Precious metals are generally regarded as more crisis-resistant investments. The classic among them is gold. In the case of precious metals, it is important to note that investing in physical forms, such as gold bars or silver coins, better protects against depreciation due to inflation. However, precious metals can also be purchased as securities, for example as part of an ETF.
Gold has a reputation for being a stable financial investment. However, its price is still affected by external factors. For example, it is susceptible to political and financial crises, to realignments of monetary policy or to expectations that inflation will rise. At such moments, many investors invest in gold in the hope of benefiting from a comparatively lower fall in value.
Commodities
Investments in commodities such as coffee, oil or gas are other forms of tangible assets. However, unlike precious metals, retail investors usually cannot invest directly in these goods in their physical form. Accordingly, shares and certificates are traded instead. Political changes in the producing countries, economic fluctuations or restrictions on production and supply chains can bring about major price changes and thus make the investment riskier.
Real estate
There are a few reasons to buy real estate. Not only can you live in it yourself, it is also a good investment opportunity. Acquired as a so-called investment property, the investor receives a regular income in the form of rent and often benefits from increases in the value of the property over time. Real estate thus offers an alternative way of generating returns, compared to, for example, stocks or bonds. It also offers some protection against inflation, as the real value remains constant even when the value of money is being eroded.
