This isn't the first time I've warned investors like you about the gold bubble and what I believe will be its looming collapse. Admittedly, the spot price of gold has risen nearly 25% since I first called it a bubble, so it's possible it might still rise after you read this.
Be that as it may, I'm more convinced than ever that gold is a bubble that's set to burst.
You're right to ask why. Keep reading -- the answer will be clear in a few moments. First, let's look at why gold is still rising...
People are still scared about loose fiscal policy and the massive amount of debt governments incurred while saving the world from economic destruction. Legitimate concerns, yes, but they're not what's really pushing gold higher.
A recent story in Bloomberg Markets lays out the real history behind this unprecedented gold spike, which I want to share with you. Once you know the facts, I'm certain you'll be as convinced as I am that gold is an unsustainable bubble, and it's just a matter of time before it bursts.
You'll want some better alternatives for where to invest, which I'll also share at the end.
A desperate solution and its frightening consequences
Historically, panicked investors seeking gold had to buy it in the form of bullion bars or gold coins -- not an easy strategy. It meant high commissions when buying and selling, needing a storage facility and insurance plan, and knowing the right people to deal with.
With a few exceptions, this kept gold as a slow-moving market. Rightly so, since however you look at it, gold is just a shiny metal with no coupon rate or growth prospects.
That all changed in 2004.
Two years earlier, Christopher Thompson -- then-chairman of major South African Gold Fields
At the time, the WGC was in a heated debate about whether jewelry was the best way to keep the price of gold moving higher.
But Thompson had another solution. He realized that a huge catalyst for the price of gold would involve the creation of an ETF backed by physical gold reserves, which could be traded by anyone with a brokerage account on the NYSE.
So in 2004, the SPDR Gold Trust
Thompson's solution was a success. In the year and half following the ETF's launch, the price of gold shot up nearly 60%.
Which brings us to today...
At the end of 2010, this ETF owned more than 41.4 million ounces of gold, giving it a market value of more than $58 billion. It's become the fastest-growing ETF in history.
But as we know, trees don't grow to the sky -- and prices don't go up forever.
This means the still-nascent interest in the fund will gradually come to a screeching halt, especially as the world economy continues smoothing out and the level of fear subsides.
And who will be left out to dry?
Some hedge fund stars like John Paulson and George Soros could feel some pain if the ETF heads south. Paulson & Co. owns more than $4 billion worth of the fund, and Soros Fund Management owns some $625 million (he also owns shares of competing ETF iShares Gold Trust
On the other hand, according to BlackRock, "individual investors may hold as much as half of the gold in ETFs that specialize in the metal." According to Capital IQ, the asset management branches of both JPMorgan Chase
So it's individual investors who will get demolished when gold prices come back down to earth.
That is, if you don't act quickly -- or smartly
If you are one of the many who own shares of the SPDR Gold Trust, my personal suggestion is to sell shares.
There's a better way to mitigate risk -- with a commodity that is completely overlooked right now.
And that's with natural gas. Even as credit concerns faded and every asset class has risen, natural gas has been stuck around $4 per thousand cubic feet since late 2008.
One way to play what I believe will be the commodity's inevitable rise is via the United States Natural Gas Fund
But I think the smartest way to play this commodity would be by investing in Ultra Petroleum
The company was pointed out to me by Tom Jacobs, the advisor of Motley Fool Special Ops, a focused portfolio service that seeks out underfollowed stocks, turnarounds, deep-value plays, or other special situations. Tom and his team of expert equity analysts believe Ultra Petroleum could be worth nearly double what it is today.
If you want to see three more of Tom's favorite special opportunities today, just enter your email address in the box below for special access to his video analysis as well as the opportunity to join Special Ops when the high-demand service reopens for a limited time this month.