A fine gold alloy wire of high tensile strength for bonding semiconductor elements is disclosed. The wire consists essentially of 0.0003 to 0.010 wt % of at least one rare earth element selected from the group consisting of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Sc and Y, the balance being Au and incidental impurities. The wire does not present a deformed loop and has greater bond strength if it contains 0.0003 to 0.010 wt % of at least one rare earth element of the Cerium Group selected from the group consisting of La, Ce, Pr, Nd and Sm and 0.0001 to 0.0060 wt % of at least one element selected from among Ge, Be and Ca.