Gold's gain signals the U.S. looks riskier to investors

Gold’s performance is an indication that “the U.S. is perceived to be riskier than other countries,” Richard Bernstein, chief executive and chief investment officer at Richard Bernstein Advisors LLC, wrote in a report this month. He cited a contrast between the precious metal’s price in dollars, which rose 13 percent for the year through Friday, and in euros, which dropped 0.6 percent. Although gold climbed in yen, Swiss francs, British pounds and Australian dollars this year, the gains were smaller than those in dollar terms, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.