1. Investment and Store of Value: Gold is often considered a safe haven investment and a hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty. Investors buy gold as a way to preserve wealth and diversify their investment portfolios. Gold prices can be influenced by factors such as supply and demand dynamics, geopolitical events, interest rates, and investor sentiment.

2. Gold Market: The gold market consists of various participants, including miners, refiners, bullion dealers, jewelry manufacturers, central banks, and individual investors. Gold is traded on global commodity exchanges, with spot prices quoted in major currencies. In addition to physical gold, there are also gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other financial instruments that allow investors to gain exposure to gold price movements.