Israel-Iran fear routs stock markets. Time to buy gold now?

Geopolitical tensions often push investors to rethink their portfolios. The recent flare-up in the Middle East — with Israel launching a wave of strikes on Iran — has reignited interest in gold. And predictably, gold prices have surged, crossing the Rs 1 lakh mark today (Friday, June 13). But does that mean you should rush to buy gold funds? Let’s examine the recent historical context and data. Gold shines in times of fear Gold has long been considered a safe haven during times of uncertainty. When war clouds gather or markets turn volatile, investors around the world flock to gold, pushing its price up. As a result, gold prices have annually shot up 23.09 per cent in the last three years.