FTSE Russell highlights growing long-term opportunities in metals associated with AI and green energy, positioning them as more dynamic investments than gold amid shifting global priorities.
Gold still has a place in diversified portfolios, but the stronger long-term growth story in commodities may now lie with metals linked to artificial intelligence and the energy transition, according to FTSE Russell.
Speaking to Kitco News, Indrani De, FTSE Russell’s head of global investment research, said gold’s investment case remains intact even as higher real interest rates weigh on the metal. She said the precious metal continues to draw support from central-bank buying, geopolitical tension and the gradual shift away from the US dollar in reserve holdings, but those advantages are being balanced by the Federal Reserve’s tighter policy stance.
“Gold really has this one tailwind and one headwind,” De told Kitco News. “Obviously, it’s the traditional inflation hedge and uncertainty hedge, and because of de-dollarization and central banks buying more gold, that really continues. Against that headwind of real yield going up.”
Her comments build on remarks she made in April, when she told Kitco News that gold remained an important portfolio diversifier even as stagflation risks and higher yields complicated the outlook. In that earlier interview, she also pointed to growing demand for commodities tied to AI and the green economy.
According to the latest Kitco report, De believes those areas now offer more attractive long-term opportunities than gold alone. She highlighted the acceleration of renewable power and electrification, arguing that the Middle East energy crisis has helped reinforce the shift. The report also noted that FTSE Russell’s Environmental Opportunities Index has outperformed the FTSE All-World Index, suggesting investor appetite for the transition theme remains strong.
That view fits with a broader commodity backdrop in which deglobalisation, strategic competition and the scramble for critical resources are reshaping investment flows. In June, Kitco reported that market strategists at Bridgewater Associates and Gavekal saw that trend as supportive of a longer commodity bull cycle, with gold and copper among the assets likely to benefit.
For now, the message from FTSE Russell is not that gold has lost relevance, but that its role may be more defensive than dynamic. For investors willing to look beyond the traditional safe haven, the bigger opportunity may be emerging in the metals powering data centres, grids and the clean-energy build-out.
- https://republicofmining.com/2026/07/10/gold-still-belongs-in-portfolios-but-ai-and-the-green-transition-are-creating-bigger-opportunities-elsewhere-in-commodities-ftse-russell-by-neils-christensen-kitco-news-july-9-2026/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.kitco.com/news/article/2026-07-09/gold-still-belongs-portfolios-ai-and-green-transition-are-creating-bigger – An article from Kitco News discusses how, despite gold’s role as a portfolio anchor, metals associated with artificial intelligence and the global energy transition present more significant long-term opportunities. Indrani De of FTSE Russell highlights that while gold benefits from central bank demand and geopolitical uncertainty, rising real interest rates pose challenges. She emphasizes the growing importance of commodities linked to AI and the green transition, noting that the Middle East energy crisis has accelerated the shift towards renewable energy and electrification. The piece also mentions that the FTSE Environmental Opportunities Index has outperformed the FTSE All-World Index, indicating strong support for the green transition. ([kitco.com](https://www.kitco.com/news/article/2026-07-09/gold-still-belongs-portfolios-ai-and-green-transition-are-creating-bigger?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.kitco.com/news/article/2026-04-08/gold-remains-anchor-diversified-portfolio-ftse-russells-indrani-de – In this Kitco News article, Indrani De of FTSE Russell discusses gold’s enduring role as a portfolio anchor amid recent market volatility. She explains that while gold’s safe-haven appeal is challenged by rising real yields and inflation concerns, it remains a crucial diversification tool. De also highlights the emergence of stagflationary risks, where slowing growth and persistent inflation pressures make real assets like gold more valuable. She notes that commodities related to the AI and green energy transitions are gaining attention due to sustained demand. ([kitco.com](https://www.kitco.com/news/article/2026-04-08/gold-remains-anchor-diversified-portfolio-ftse-russells-indrani-de?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.kitco.com/news/article/2026-06-23/golds-pullback-creates-attractive-entry-de-dollarization-turns-structural – This Kitco News article features Jerry Prior of KraneShares Mount Lucas Managed Futures Index Strategy ETF, who views gold’s recent price correction as an attractive entry point for investors. He emphasizes that the long-term bullish factors for gold, particularly the global shift away from the U.S. dollar as the dominant reserve asset, remain intact. Prior suggests that despite short-term headwinds, the structural trend towards de-dollarization supports gold’s future performance. ([kitco.com](https://www.kitco.com/news/article/2026-06-23/golds-pullback-creates-attractive-entry-de-dollarization-turns-structural?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.kitco.com/news/article/2026-06-04/deglobalization-sparks-race-strategic-resources-driving-gold-and-copper – In this Kitco News article, Karen Karniol-Tambour of Bridgewater Associates and Louis-Vincent Gave of Gavekal discuss how deglobalization is leading to a global race for strategic resources, impacting the outlook for gold and copper. They argue that the shift away from globalization towards geopolitical competition and resource hoarding is creating conditions for a sustained commodity bull market. This transition reinforces gold’s role as a critical reserve asset and suggests a structural change in inflation dynamics. ([kitco.com](https://www.kitco.com/news/article/2026-06-04/deglobalization-sparks-race-strategic-resources-driving-gold-and-copper?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.kitco.com/news/article/2026-07-09/gold-still-belongs-portfolios-ai-and-green-transition-are-creating-bigger – An article from Kitco News discusses how, despite gold’s role as a portfolio anchor, metals associated with artificial intelligence and the global energy transition present more significant long-term opportunities. Indrani De of FTSE Russell highlights that while gold benefits from central bank demand and geopolitical uncertainty, rising real interest rates pose challenges. She emphasizes the growing importance of commodities linked to AI and the green transition, noting that the Middle East energy crisis has accelerated the shift towards renewable energy and electrification. The piece also mentions that the FTSE Environmental Opportunities Index has outperformed the FTSE All-World Index, indicating strong support for the green transition. ([kitco.com](https://www.kitco.com/news/article/2026-07-09/gold-still-belongs-portfolios-ai-and-green-transition-are-creating-bigger?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.kitco.com/news/article/2026-04-08/gold-remains-anchor-diversified-portfolio-ftse-russells-indrani-de – In this Kitco News article, Indrani De of FTSE Russell discusses gold’s enduring role as a portfolio anchor amid recent market volatility. She explains that while gold’s safe-haven appeal is challenged by rising real yields and inflation concerns, it remains a crucial diversification tool. De also highlights the emergence of stagflationary risks, where slowing growth and persistent inflation pressures make real assets like gold more valuable. She notes that commodities related to the AI and green energy transitions are gaining attention due to sustained demand. ([kitco.com](https://www.kitco.com/news/article/2026-04-08/gold-remains-anchor-diversified-portfolio-ftse-russells-indrani-de?utm_source=openai))
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article was published on July 9, 2026, and is the earliest known publication of this specific content. ([kitco.com](https://www.kitco.com/news/article/2026-07-09/gold-still-belongs-portfolios-ai-and-green-transition-are-creating-bigger?utm_source=openai)) There are no indications of recycled news or discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes. The narrative is original and timely.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The direct quotes from Indrani De, Head of Global Investment Research at FTSE Russell, are unique to this article. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, and the wording is consistent across sources. The quotes can be independently verified through the Kitco News article. ([kitco.com](https://www.kitco.com/news/article/2026-07-09/gold-still-belongs-portfolios-ai-and-green-transition-are-creating-bigger?utm_source=openai))
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
Kitco News is a reputable source for precious metals and commodities news. The article is authored by Neils Christensen, a journalist with over a decade of experience in the financial sector. ([kitco.com](https://www.kitco.com/news/article/2026-07-09/gold-still-belongs-portfolios-ai-and-green-transition-are-creating-bigger?utm_source=openai)) There are no indications of derivative content or reliance on unverified sources.
Plausibility check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims made in the article align with current industry trends, such as the growing importance of AI and the green transition in commodities. The information is consistent with other reputable sources, including discussions at the Sohn Montreal Conference. ([kitco.com](https://www.kitco.com/news/article/2026-06-04/deglobalization-sparks-race-strategic-resources-driving-gold-and-copper?utm_source=openai))
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The article is original, timely, and authored by a reputable journalist. The quotes are unique and can be independently verified. The content aligns with current industry trends and is free from paywall restrictions. While the reliance on a single source for quotes is noted, the overall credibility of the article is high.