The escalating conflict in the Middle East — especially the closure of the Strait of the Hormuz — had an adverse effect on many investment strategies in March, and gold was no exception. The spot gold price closed out March at $4,668.06. This represented gold’s monthly drop of 11.57% and its largest monthly decrease since October 2008. A few naysayers looked at the performance of gold in March and viewed it as evidence that the metal’s merits as a store of value are fading. However, some experts have argued that the sell-off was driven by a need for liquidity, not because gold is losing its luster. Crucially, what’s ... (full story)