The correct answer is      (C.) Gold

Gold is unlike any other commodity. While oil and gas are consumed as quickly as they are produced, gold is virtually indestructible. It has been estimated that roughly 160,000 tons (give or take) have been pulled from the ground since the metal was first discovered -- and most of that is still around in some form today. Still, gold prices are subject to the same immutable laws of supply and demand.
Interest in gold picks up any time there is even a whiff of inflation or macroeconomic instability. And given the unprecedented turmoil and systemic breakdown of the financial system, it comes as no surprise that millions of everyday investors are turning to gold as a safe-haven hedge against the unknown.
Thus, gold prices have more than tripled over the past decade, while stocks have gone nowhere. And if the recent surge in demand is any indication, this rally is far from over. Even at prices approaching $1,000 an ounce, gold is still sitting at just half the level reached during the last boom in the early 1980s -- when it spiked to $2,186 in today's dollars.

As you might expect, orders from jewelers and industrial customers have softened lately due to deteriorating economic conditions. Ironically, though, those same conditions have created a tidal wave of demand from investors -- many of whom are retail investors interested in holding physical gold. Demand for coins and bars shot up almost +90%. Meanwhile, heavy cash inflows caused precious metals ETFs to deposit an additional 10.2 million ounces of gold in their vaults during the year. Overall, global demand crossed the $100 billion mark for the first time in 2008. So in what will go down as one of the worst years on record for stocks, bonds, real estate and even many commodities, gold shined brighter than ever and traded at an average price of $872 per ounce -- about +25% above 2007 levels.

Buying is so brisk for gold that widespread retail shortages have been reported. Fortunately, you don't need to be a pharaoh to own it these days -- just a simple ETF shareholder. That's why StreetAuthority editor Nathan Slaughter offers a prime list of six gold-plated ETFs that are great fits for investors who want their portfolios to shine. In the latest issue of the ETF Authority newsletter, Nathan offers an in-depth look at the precious metals markets as well as his analyses of two gold-based ETFs that are attractively valued and offer low expense ratios. To learn the names of these funds, and to learn more about ETF Authority, please visit this link.