Gold has been the most profitable investment vehicle since the collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings in 2008, a survey showed Wednesday.

According to the data compiled by the Yonhap news agency through banks and securities firms, the price of gold has increased 137.5 percent since the U.S.-based financial services firm filed for bankruptcy in September 2008.

According to the data, the price of 1 don (3.75 grams) of gold increased 137.5 percent from the 107,064 won ($97) on Sept. 16, 2008 to 254,284 won on Sept. 7 this year.

With gold prices soaring, gold investment products also saw significant profits and expansion in the past three years.

The number of gold deposit accounts went from 48,000 in September 2008 to nearly 105,000 this month, while profit rate as high as 131.9 percent have been recorded by some products.

According to data compiled by the online financial information provider FN Guide, the average profit rate of 47 gold-funds operating more than 1 billion won came in at 125.9 percent.

Over the same period, stock prices rose 32.1 percent making shares the second most profitable investment vehicle for the period.

In the wake of Lehman Brothers’ collapse, the country’s benchmark KOSPI dropped to about 930 in October 2008, before climbing back up to the record high of 2,228.96 points on May 2 this year. However, the index has pushed back down to below 1,900 points by financial instabilities in Europe.

Bonds recorded the third-highest profit rate with 20.1 percent followed by time deposits, which at the interest rate of 6.05 percent offered in September 2008 would have brought in 18.2 percent profit.

Residential properties, once considered to be a fail-safe investment, were the least profitable with the national average having increased by only 7.6 percent over the period.

By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)