Investing in Gold & precious metals

[Uzoma]

How does someone go about investing in precious metals and commodities on a small scale? I'm thinking of wheat, gold, platinum but maybe �2,000 at first, then a regular monthly contribution?

[BigMac]

If you look at the ads to the right of this post, you will see some places to get some ideas. The World Gold COuncil has a very helpful website, too.

More broadly, you can buy physical gold through a bullion dealer - suitable for a one-off, lump sum purchase.

You can buy shares in something like the Merrill Lynch Gold and General Fund (one of the best performing funds over the past few years) which will give you exposure to gold and other metals.

You could invest in something like RAB Capital or its Special Situations fund - both have exposure to minerals including gold and will probably have exposure to 'softs' like wheat. Look at someone like Jim Slater, who's been high-profile recently about commodities and Brazil, if you're prepared to trust an individual.

You could buy shares directly in companies that hold or mine gold or which explore for gold - Mercator Gold, Oxus Gold, Central China Goldfields - all of which have greater or lesser risk.

You could find a unit trust/investment trust that specialises in metals/commodities and which allows regular monthly investments of �50 - one with an ISA-wrapper might work. Try the AITC website.

Short answer - talk to an indepencent financial adviser and/or read the weekend money sections in the broadsheet newspapers.

Hope this helps.

[ProfPlum]

ETF securities have a range of commodity linked funds which allow you to buy Exchange Traded Commodities through a stockbroker like normal shares. If you have a sharedealing account and/or a Stocks and Shares ISA you can buy and sell them as and when you like.
If you think the prices is going to go down you can short the market as well by bying the "short" ETCs. If you are sure they are going to go up you can get the leverages options which double the change in he underlying price!
You can also buy a basket of commodities or all commodities.
http://www.etfsecurities.com

[steven15]

For investing in precious metals you'd require a rather heavy investment .You can also trade in wheat, spices and agro products and shares. With this amount you can trade well in future and option market as well.

Suppose you are putting 2000 pounds company will give you leverage according to the broker, but this leverage has too be paid by you. And unfortunately if you face a loss you will have to pay for the loss - leverage , margin plus mark to market price .