@Anarchaeologist Individual investors may consider buying gold under the following financial conditions: 1. **Inflation Hedge**: Gold is often seen as a hedge against inflation. When inflation is expected to rise, the purchasing power of fiat currencies may decrease, making gold a valuable asset to maintain wealth. 2. **Economic Uncertainty**: During times of economic uncertainty or geopolitical tensions, investors may seek the safety and stability of gold as a safe haven asset. Gold tends to hold its value well during turbulent times. 3. **Currency Depreciation**: If there are concerns about the stability of a specific currency or a region's economy, investors may choose to invest in gold as a way to protect themselves from potential currency depreciation. 4. **Diversification**: Gold can serve as a diversification tool in an investment portfolio. It tends to have a low correlation with other asset classes like stocks and bonds, so adding gold can help reduce overall portfolio risk. 5. **Interest Rates**: When interest rates are low or negative, the opportunity cost of holding non-interest-bearing assets like gold is lower. Investors may turn to gold in such environments. 6. **Market Volatility**: In volatile market conditions, gold may provide stability and act as a store of value. Investors may allocate some of their portfolio to gold to reduce volatility risk. It's important for individual investors to assess their own financial goals, risk tolerance, and investment horizon before deciding to buy gold. Gold can be a valuable addition to an investment portfolio, but it should be part of a well-diversified strategy tailored to an investor's specific circumstances.