Gold - The Return and How To Buy? Monday, May 15, 2006. Toronto - Gold has been going upward since 2001. It reached it's zenith hitting $700 US an ounce in May, 2006. From 2001 till May, gold rose from US$250 to US$700 and analysts are predicting to be at US$1200 over the next few years. People are inclined in investing in gold these days than ever before and many of you asked how to purchase gold? So here is some insight regarding this fourth most important world currency. There are many ways to obtain gold. * Wafer/Bar Scotiabnak happens to be Canada's Gold Bank and it can be purchased thru any branch. Comes in a number of different sizes and values to suit all needs. There is a small premium to pay and most banks also rent safety deposit boxes to store gold or your valuable assets. * Coins/Bullion You pay a small premium to buy. There are varieties of coins available but Maple Leaf is the one which is world-renowned. Guaranteed by the Government of Canada to contain 99.99% pure gold. There is no bullion coin in the world today that is more pure. It's available in six denominations from 1/20th of an ounce up to one ounce. Available from coin dealers, some banks and the Royal Canadian Mint. * Certificates Have same value as real gold can be purchased from any Scotia Branch, backed by bank's assets. Also fully convertible to physical gold. * Gold Mining Companies Dozens of them listed on TSX. Such as Goldcorp, Kinross, Barrick Gold. International companies are Gold Fields Ltd., Newmont Mining, AngloGold Ashanti etc * Mutual Funds More than a dozens available which invest in a variety of companies that mine gold and other precious metals. Example: CI's Signature Canadian Resource Fund, which has Barrick Gold Corp. as #1 holding. * ETF Exchange Traded Funds trade like a stock and has a low annual management expense fee, making it an attractive alternative to mutual funds. In Canada: iShares S&P/TSX Gold, TSX: XGD, that invests in 17 of Canada's biggest gold companies. CENTRAL FUND OF CANADA LIMITED, TSX: CEF.NV.A, holds 50.5% Gold Bullion and 48.1% Silver Bullion. IN USA: streetTRACKS Gold, GLD-N and iShares COMEX Gold, IAU-A.