Gold MarketsAllocated vs Unallocated Gold: The Difference That Matters in a Crisis
The terms sound technical but the legal distinction is enormous. Allocated gold is yours; unallocated gold is a claim. Here is what that really means.
Nov 22, 2025
EditorialBrowse Sections
All Articles110 sections01Allocated vs Unallocated02AML & KYC for Bullion03Asian Refiners04Assaying: Fire & XRF05Auto-Catalyst Demand06Basel III & NSFR07BIS & IMF08Bretton Woods & Nixon Shock09BRICS & De-Dollarisation10Bullion Insurance11Central Bank Gold Buying12Central Bank History13Central Banks14Chart Patterns15Chinese Festive16Classical Gold Standard17Coins & Bullion18COMEX & SLV19Copper & Base Metals20Copper & Electrification21Copper Bullion Products22Copper Supply23Copper vs Gold24COT Positioning25Counterfeit Detection26Country Tax Guides27Crisis Episodes28Culture29De-Dollarisation30E-Waste & PGM Recovery31Error Varieties32ETF Flows33ETFs & Funds34Forecasts & Models35Futures & COT36Geopolitics37Gold Markets38Gold-Silver Ratio39Grading PCGS & NGC40Green Energy41Hallmarks & Bar Brands42Historic Coinage43History44Home Storage45Hydrogen & PGM46Indian Wedding Demand47Industrial48Industrial Demand49Inflation Hedge50Intermarket Analysis51Investment52Iridium & Electrolysers53Jewellery54Jewellery & Cultural Demand55Junior Explorers56LBMA Good Delivery57LME & SHFE Stocks58Macro & Geopolitics59Market Analysis60MENA Souk Demand61Mid-Tier Producers62Miller & Wohlwill63Mining64Mining Equities65Minor PGMs66Mintage Data67Mints & Refineries68Modern Bullion Coins69Monetary History70Monetary Silver71Numismatics72Numismatics & Bullion Coins73Palladium74PGM Miners75PGM Recycling76Physical Premiums77Platinum78Platinum & Palladium79Platinum Jewellery80Pt-Pd Ratio81Ratio Spreads82Recycling & Refining Tech83Regulation & Tax84Religious Demand85Rhodium Market86Royalty & Streaming87Russian Norilsk88Ruthenium & Osmium89Sanctions & Reserves90Scrap Flows91Seasonality92Senior Producers93Silver94Silver Markets95Silver Miners96Silver Mining Supply97Silver Squeezes98South African PGM Supply99Sovereign Mints100Spot Pricing & LBMA Fix101Storage, Vaulting & Security102Swiss Refiners103Taxes & Storage104Technical Analysis105Urban Mining106US IRA & SDIRA107VAT & Import Duty108Vault Provider Reviews109War Premia110Western Fine Jewellery
Gold Markets
InvestmentPAMP, Valcambi, Perth: A Practical Guide to Bullion Bar Brands
Not every gold bar is created equal. Brand reputation, refinery accreditation, and packaging all affect liquidity when it comes time to sell.
Nov 8, 2025
PalladiumOwning Palladium: Bars, Coins, and the Realities of Physical Storage
Physical palladium is liquid in theory and frustrating in practice. Here is what investors actually face when buying, storing, and selling the metal.
Oct 29, 2025
InvestmentFranco-Nevada and the Royalty Model: Why Royalty Companies Beat Miners
Gold mining stocks underperform gold itself over most multi-decade windows. Royalty companies do the opposite. Here is the structural reason why.
Oct 19, 2025
HistoryGold Through the 2008 Financial Crisis: Hedge or Casualty?
Gold's performance during the global financial crisis was more nuanced than the narrative suggests. A month-by-month account reveals what gold actually did when the system broke.
Sep 28, 2025
InvestmentPhysical Gold Taxes: US 28% Collectibles vs UK CGT-Exempt Britannias
The US treats physical gold as collectibles taxed at 28%. The UK exempts certain coins from capital gains entirely. The difference can swing returns by a quarter.
Sep 19, 2025
ETFs & FundsGLD vs IAU vs SGOL: Tracking Error and Why It Matters Long-Term
The big three gold ETFs all track spot, but tracking error compounds. Here is how 60 basis points becomes a serious drag over a 20-year hold.
Aug 20, 2025
InvestmentLBMA Good Delivery: The Standard That Defines Institutional Gold
LBMA Good Delivery bars are the institutional standard for gold trading. Here is what the standard actually requires and why it matters even for retail investors.
Jul 21, 2025
InvestmentAllocated vs Unallocated Gold: The Distinction That Saves Investors in a Crisis
Most "vault accounts" are unallocated, which means you are an unsecured creditor of a bank. Allocated storage costs more for a reason.
Jun 21, 2025
InvestmentGold IRAs: How They Actually Work and Where They Get Expensive
A self-directed IRA can hold physical gold under specific IRS rules. Here is the mechanism, the approved coin list, and the fee structure that drains many accounts.
May 22, 2025