Billionaire Sawiris Says Quarter Of A Portfolio Should Be In Gold

Gold is a good investment at a time when the world is concerned about inflation, Egyptian billionaire Naguib Sawiris told CNBC.

The precious metal is often touted as a hedge against rising prices and a safe-haven asset that should make up around 5% to 10% of an investor’s portfolio.

But long-time gold investor Sawiris recommends allocating much more to gold.

“I say 20% to 30%. I used to be at 50%,” the chairman and CEO of Orascom Investment Holding told CNBC’s “Capital Connection” on Tuesday. “It’s something that’s fundamental. It’s always been there.”

He has even set up a $1.4 billion gold mining fund, which was launched last month. He said the move was “personally motivated” because a substantial part of his net worth is in gold.

Gold as a safeguard

Gold can act as a buffer to risks in the market, Sawiris suggested.

“Let’s say the inflation comes in and there is a crash in the stock market for any reason or the other, you know, then you will be very happy that … you have a position in gold,” he said.

Asked if he expects the stock market to decline, he said prices have been high for a “very long while” and will “inevitably” fall at some point.

"I want to go sleep at night not affected by a crash on the stock market or a pandemic."

Naguib Sawiris (CEO of Orascom Investment Holding)

Additionally, there are many uncertainties such as political instabilities and the “never-ending saga” of the Covid pandemic, Sawiris said.

“I want to go sleep at night not affected by a crash on the stock market or a pandemic,” he said.

Gold isn’t immune to all market events, however. Historically, the precious metal has a mixed record on returns during inflationary periods.

It also suffered a 4% sell-off following a better-than-expected U.S. jobs report on Friday, before a “flash crash” was triggered by a lack of liquidity this week.

Sawiris acknowledged that higher interest rates, which could come as economies recover from the Covid crisis, will “eat up” gains from gold. Still, he said he’s a long-term investor in the metal.