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Amid global risks, younger investors favour tangible bars as paper gold loses shine

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Julie ZhangPublished: 1:35pm, 3 Sep 2026

Sussi Ye began buying gold bars in small batches at the start of the year, slowly building a hoard now worth about 200,000 yuan (US$29,700). Despite the metal’s price swings since then, she has not sold a single gram.

“I prefer investing in physical gold instead of gold-linked financial products,” said the 32-year-old resident of Hangzhou, capital of eastern China’s Zhejiang province.

“I like that it’s tangible, you can hold it, and that gives you a sense of security. If I get married someday, I can still have these gold bars crafted into wedding jewellery.”

Ye’s instinct reflects a broader shift in global gold markets.

Demand for physical gold among Gen Z was rising, as geopolitical tensions and market uncertainties fuelled interest in owning gold outright rather than through paper-based products, according to the London-based dealer IBV Gold London.

“Younger investors have experienced a lot of uncertainty – inflation, geopolitical tensions, volatile markets and concerns about the strength of currencies and the wider economy,” said Yuvana Singh, manager at IBV Gold London.

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