In normal times, millions of dollars worth of gold bars travel in the holds of commercial airliners. Often, they are only a few meters away from the passengers without them knowing it. Once the gold bars have reached their destinations, they are transported in armored vehicles to vaults or refineries.

Over the past twelve months, the price of this precious metal has risen enormously. Calculated in euros, it is now 37 percent higher than a year ago. In April 2020 the price rose by almost seven percent or 100 euros. The best gold month on average is January, followed by May as the second-best month.

Gold equities are breaking out and thus showing spectacular strength as one of the few sectors. Even on one day last week, when the S&P 500 stock index fell 2.81 per cent, gold stocks (measured by the highly regarded VanEck Gold Miners ETF) closed 3.19 per cent higher.

Consumption and economies are affected by corona, with closures and gradual return to normal life being the theme. Whether the global restrictions and precautionary measures are or were necessary or perhaps even excessive - from the perspective of stock market and commodity fans, memories of the global financial crisis are awakening.

The steady upward trend in the price of the precious metal shows the uniqueness of the commodity - it is one of the safest and most liquid assets, if not the number one. Should the price go down again, this is possible under the given market conditions and should be seen as an entry opportunity.

Especially when markets are turbulent, investors should remain calm. After all, gold mining stocks are not about short-term investments. This is also shown by recent price developments, not only in the heavyweights in the sector, but also in the so-called juniors or smaller gold companies. Because, as always, it came in crisis situations: Initially, all asset classes, including gold and silver, were sold, which sent share prices plummeting. After the crash, the gold price was the first to rise, taking gold stocks with it, and share prices went up.

China exempts battery electric cars, plug-in hybrids and hydrogen cars from the ten percent purchase tax in 2021 and 2022. And this after the tax on various electric cars was abolished. The vehicles concerned will be listed in a catalogue. The situation is similar in Germany with the expansion of the environmental bonus. In this country, too, there is a list of subsidies.

In South Africa, for example, very strict curfews that have been in place for a good four weeks are now being relaxed. President Ramphosa twittered that the world had been shown what a nation can achieve with courage, determination and solidarity. South Africa is rich in raw materials. Especially gold, platinum, uranium, copper, iron ore or coal are among the raw materials that are exported.

The demand for coins and bars is high. According to Degussa, there has been a year-on-year increase of more than 500 percent since early March. At the same time, not all mines can simply continue producing. Nevertheless, the mining companies are worried about their employees.

This immediately raises the question of how much gold China actually owns. It's not quite clear, but the Chinese central bank is estimated to hold about 20,000 tonnes of gold. Then there is the gold of the inhabitants, which amounts to an estimated 12,000 tons. Moreover, if China turns its US dollar into gold, supporting its currency with it, the yuan could become stronger.