Uncertainties and vulnerabilities remain across geopolitical, fiscal, and trade domains. Importantly, the core reasons for considering alternative assets such as gold, as outline in our May report, remain largely unchanged.
Gold continues its extraordinary price rally, having reached 48 all-time highs this year. Geopolitical tensions, strong investment demand, dollar weakness, financial market risk and expectations of dovish Fed policy lifted international prices by 11.6% in September and by an additional 7.9% in the first two weeks of October, pushing past the US$4,000/oz milestone.
Supported by reviving investment strength and relatively more active retailer replenishment, wholesale gold demand in China rebounded during September. Meanwhile, the PBoC announced its 11th consecutive monthly gold purchase and Chinese gold ETF flows turned positive.
Gold reached another historic milestone on 8 October 2025 as it broke through US$4,000/oz. And while it finished the week below the record high, it’s en route to mark its strongest performance in a calendar year since 1979.
Central banks added a net 19t to global gold reserves in August, based on reported data from both the IMF and respective central banks. This is broadly in line with monthly net purchases between March and June, and signals a return to buying form after global reserves were unchanged in July.
