News
Man Killed by Mountain Lion in Northern California Attack
In a tragic incident, a man lost his life and his brother was injured in a mountain lion attack while they were searching for deer antlers in a forested area in El Dorado County, Northern California. This terrifying attack, which occurred recently, is believed to be the first fatal incident involving a mountain lion in the state in the past 20 years.
The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office received a distressing 911 call at 1:13 p.m. reporting that two individuals had been attacked by a mountain lion. Tragically, the man who was killed was only 21 years old, while his 18-year-old brother sustained injuries but is expected to survive.
Upon arriving at the scene, deputies encountered the mountain lion next to the victim’s body. Sergeant Kyle Parker explained to Fox 40 News that the deputies discharged their firearms in an attempt to intervene and provide aid to the victim, with uncertainty about whether the mountain lion was hit by the gunfire.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is currently involved in tracking the mountain lion to ensure the safety of the surrounding area. Beth Pratt, who leads the National Wildlife Federation’s #SaveLACougars campaign, took to social media to express the rarity of such attacks, noting that this was the first fatal mountain lion attack in California since 2004.
Pratt emphasized the infrequency of mountain lion attacks, stating that only four fatalities have occurred in the state since 1986, despite California’s large population. She compared this to the thousands of deaths caused by car accidents in the state each year, highlighting the perspective that mountain lion encounters, though tragic, are exceedingly rare.
It is crucial to recognize the risks associated with wildlife encounters, particularly with apex predators like mountain lions. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely to ensure the safety of residents and visitors in the area. Our thoughts and condolences go out to the victim’s loved ones during this difficult time.
News
Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?
The price of gold has climbed to record highs recently and has remained strong through much of April. And, that growth continued until the precious metal traded at around $2,390 per ounce on April 19, 2024. But since, growth in the price of the precious metal has cooled, with gold’s price now hovering around $2,300 per ounce.
This lull in gold’s price may represent an investment opportunity.
In general, investing is centered around buying assets when prices are low and selling them when prices are high – generating a profit on the difference between the two. So, considering the declines in gold’s price over the past few days, now may be the time to make your investment. But is buying gold during this lull in prices really a good idea?
Compare your gold investment options among leading brokers now.
Gold prices have cooled. Should you buy in now?
With gold’s price down from recent highs, you may be wondering if now is the right time to buy in. There are several reasons the dip in gold’s price may represent an opportunity to buy. Here are some of the biggest:
Prices may rise again
If looking at a gold price chart shows anything for certain, it shows that changes in the overall growth of the medal come in fits and spurts. Periods of price growth are typically followed by periods of declines and vice versa.
But with inflation rising in recent months – and with gold’s reputation as a safe-haven asset that can hedge against inflation – it only makes sense that the price of the precious metal will eventually start to head up again in the future. While attempting to time that directional change may be tricky, buying the precious metal while the price is down gives you the opportunity to take advantage of any upward movement that may be ahead.
Add gold to your portfolio now before prices have a chance to rise.
You may be able to make a quick profit
Gold isn’t known as an asset in which you can earn a quick return, but in today’s market, that may be the case. Don’t forget that in January, gold was trading at just $2,000 per ounce. And, by mid-April, the commodity’s price had climbed to around $2,400 per ounce. That’s about 20% growth in a matter of months, much of which happened since March 1 – an impressive climb for any investment asset.
Perhaps more importantly, gold’s price growth through the beginning of 2024 shows that the commodity doesn’t have to be a buy and hold style investment that you keep in a safety deposit box or precious metal depository for years to come. There’s also the possibility that the commodity’s price could climb further ahead, making it a compelling way to potentially generate a quick profit.
There are other benefits of investing in gold
There are other benefits of investing in gold that have little to do with the price growth seen thus far in 2024 – or the lull in prices seen over the past couple of days. Those benefits include:
- Inflation protection: Gold has long been considered an inflation hedge, and for good reason. When inflation drives the prices of consumer goods and services up – and the value of the dollar down – gold’s price tends to rise. So, it could be used to maintain the value of your portfolio during inflationary economic conditions. That’s important in today’s economic environment as stubborn inflation continues to weigh on the value of the dollar.
- Portfolio diversification: Gold’s price doesn’t always move in the same pattern that bonds or stocks do. So, mixing a reasonable amount of gold into your portfolio (up to 10% of your portfolio assets) as a diversifier could protect you from losses should one or more of your traditional portfolio assets fall in value. “If you have less than 5% – 10% of your net worth in commodities & FX (forex), you should absolutely consider adding exposure to gold and other precious metals,” says Vijay Marolia, money manager and managing partner at the wealth management firm, Regal Point Capital.
The bottom line
Gold’s price has fallen from recent highs – which may represent an opportunity to tap into growth ahead. However, gold isn’t simply a “buy while it’s low and sell while it’s a high” kind of investment opportunity. The commodity can also protect your portfolio from the stubborn inflation we’ve seen thus far in 2024 while acting as a diversification tool that could increase your risk-adjusted portfolio returns. So, consider adding gold to your portfolio today while it has the potential to grow in value.