Gold has for centuries been THE hedge against inflation and recession.
So What is happening today - banks crashing only to be rescued by Governments fearful of losing public confidence - and yet the price of gold is slowly sliding downwards and upwards again.

In history gold has always soared during a crisis-
Banks worldwide are doing a pretty fair impersonation of tortoises grabbing all the money and not lending out

(despite government fury at slowing the efforts to kickstart economies again)

Airlines are mothballing planes instead of flying them through volcanic dust clouds.

What will happen next ?
Perhaps a Hung Parliament in Britain
(some would say that is a great idea ! I have some spare rope in the shed ....)