Ding,
Here is some info on the various ways to buy gold...
Gold Bullion - There are many different ways to buy actual gold. For example, bullion coins, bullion bars, legal tender coins and numismatics (collectibles.) And, of course, you want to get the most value for your money.
All gold is quoted in spot price as bid/ask. The price you will pay when purchasing is the spot ask price. On top of the spot price you will pay a premium plus a commission. Premiums vary from item to item. The spot gold pricing can be found easily on the Internet.
I mostly buy gold coins, usually American Gold Eagles, from
California Numismatic. I have found them to be honest, knowledgeable, and to have good prices. Plus, they waive the shipping on orders above $1,000.
Gold Futures - Another way to buy gold is to buy gold futures. The gold futures contract calls for 100 ounces of gold. At today's prices (about $360 an ounce) the contract is worth about $36,000. The current initial margin is about $2,000.
So you're dealing with a great deal of leverage, which can work for you or against you. It doesn't take much of a move against you before you can lose more than your initial margin.
My suggestion is, if you want to buy gold futures, to put up much more than the initial margin to protect yourself against adverse moves. There are also options on gold futures, which is another way to limit your risk.
A futures broker that has a good reputation, and who has dirt cheap commissions, is
Interactive Brokers. I haven't opened an account with them yet. But I probably will when I start buying other commodities that are hard to purchase without buying the futures.
One suggestion - make sure you know what you're doing before you consider trading futures. There is lots of basic information on the Internet, and if you have specific questions, I will be glad to answer them.
Gold Stocks - Other than the gold coins that I own, the most of my gold investments are in shares of gold mining companies.
As you know, I think we're in the early stages of a major bull market in gold. And in the early stages gold stocks usually do better than the bullion. A small rise in the price of gold can do wonders for the earnings of a gold mining company.
My biggest position is in Newmont Mining (NEM). I wrote a detailed explanation on why I bought Newmont in the March 16 issue of the Smart Money Report, Issue No. 10. Check the archive link I gave you in one of your reports to find it. But I also own Glamis Gold (GLG).
Whatever gold stocks that you buy I suggest that you stick with unhedged gold mining companies. They're the ones that stand to benefit the most from a move up in gold. One interesting stock right now is Barrick Gold (ABX). They have a new CEO and they've greatly reduced their hedged position. So the stock seems to me to be relatively cheap.
And of course, there are options on some of the gold mining stocks as well. I particularly like the Newmont LEAPS.
I could go on an on about the various ways to invest and trade gold. But hopefully that will get you started, and then you can ask specific questions as you do your research.
Larry