gold demand

The World Gold Council has recently posted its analysis of the continued relevance of gold. As one might expect from the source, the WGC finds that gold is a strategic asset that can play several valuable roles in a portfolio . . . .

Despite the headwinds of rising interest rates, gold was the best performing metal this week, although down slightly by 1.24 percent.  Gold traders are bullish for the fourth week in a row after the yellow metal posted its biggest monthly advance in five months in January, according to Bloomberg’s weekly survey . . . .

Gold futures settled modestly higher Wednesday, helped by a slightly weaker dollar index even as stocks reclaimed a portion of the sharp declines that marked the start to the week . . . .

Gold and Religion have always been symbolically linked in countless civilizations from antiquity to the present day. From religious artwork to religious symbolism, gold is unique among metals in being central to many of the world’s religions, and gold has long been associated with the divine sphere . . . .

The Central Bank of Russia added 63 tonnes to its gold reserves during Q3. Year-to-date, the Russian Central Bank has increased its holdings by 164 tonnes . . . .

Russia has been expanding its gold reserves at a record pace, according to information from the World Gold Council (WGC). Russian business newspaper Kommersant suggests this gold rush will give Russia guarantees against sanctions and economic and geopolitical risks . . . .

As we’ve noted in our just published article on the Shanghai Gold Exchange’s October figures, Asian gold demand this year to date is definitely trending higher . . . .

Central banks are hoarding gold. China, Russia and many Asian and West Asian central banks have started accumulating gold. Now that the fashion of hoarding gold is back, let us see the fundamental reasons behind it . . . .

Perhaps the biggest unknown in assessing global gold consumption in this, or any, year is the true level of Chinese gold consumption . . . .

My good friend Pierre Lassonde, cofounder and chairman of Franco-Nevada, doesn’t know how we’ll replace the massive gold deposits of the past 130 years or so. Speaking with the German financial newspaper Finanz und Wirtschaft this month, Pierre says we’re seeing a significant slowdown in the number of large deposits being discovered . . . .