Exactly, gold fluctuates like any other currency. The disadvantage with gold is that you can't earn interest or dividends in it. The advantage of gold is that

Exactly, gold fluctuates like any other currency. The disadvantage with gold is that you can't earn interest or dividends in it. The advantage of gold is that it is run by the most responsible monetary authority in the world, a central bank that couldn't print more of it if it wanted too. Pros and cons, to both, that's why the suggestion is to keep about 25% of one's portfolio in gold. It's a hedge against a gross mismanagement by the U.S. government.