Krishan Gopaul
Senior Analyst, EMEA World Gold CouncilECB review signals little change in short-term
At the end of January, the new head of the European Central Bank (ECB), Christine Lagarde, announced the launch of a year-long strategic review of the bank’s monetary policy strategy. Stemming from this, there has been much discussion recently about the ECB’s existing “below but close to 2%” inflation target, and whether this needs to be made more specific, both in aim and measurement.
Juan Carlos Artigas
Global Head of Research World Gold CouncilPotential impact of the coronavirus on gold
Mukesh Kumar
Former Senior Analyst, India World Gold CouncilGold demand tailed off in second half of December with start of inauspicious period and higher gold price
Wedding and stable domestic gold price at ~Rs 37800/10gm helped demand in first half of December but demand tailed off after 15th December after the beginning of inauspicious period and rising gold price which jumped by 3.7% from mid-December till end of the month.
EY Canada
Jeff Swinoga and Thibaut MilletWhy ESG is climbing the boardroom agenda
Alistair Hewitt
Former Head of Market Intelligence World Gold CouncilThe Art of the Trade Deal
Ray Jia
Research Head, China World Gold CouncilChinese New Year: what does it mean for China’s physical gold market?
On 25th January 2020, people throughout China will celebrate the start of a new year – the most important festival in the Chinese lunar calendar. This will kick off Year of the Rat and begin another rotation of the twelve zodiac signs. Most people are already in a festive mood, and, as a result, so is China’s gold market.
John Mulligan
Head of Sustainability Strategy World Gold CouncilAfter the fire… Gold and the climate crisis
Gold has a special place in the Australian psyche. The gold rush of the early 1850s helped propel the country’s economy, stimulate its industries and grow its population. Australia is the world’s second largest gold producer and gold remains its third major commodity export. And over the last few years the Australian gold sector has flourished, with record mine production and record gold prices... But any sense of sectoral optimism is in danger of evaporating as the country struggles to cope with raging bushfires of unprecedented intensity and scale.
Ray Jia
Research Head, China World Gold CouncilThe first exchange-traded gold option in China
China’s first exchange-traded gold future’s option was listed on 20th December 2019 on the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE). While gold options already existed in China, these were traded over-the-counter (OTC) on the OTC market platform at the Shanghai Gold Exchange (SGE) and linked to physical gold products.
Adam Perlaky
Former Senior Analyst, Americas World Gold CouncilDrivers behind the recent gold rally
Louise Street
Senior Markets Analyst World Gold CouncilGold investment jumps on spike in global political tensions
Gold has long been recognised as a safe haven, an asset that investors seek out for protection and security during uncertain times... That certainly seems to have been borne out over the last week, with gold reaching a seven-year high.
Krishan Gopaul
Senior Analyst, EMEA World Gold CouncilCentral bank demand remains on course for remarkable 2019
In November, central banks reported adding 27.9 tonnes – on a net basis – to global official gold reserves, 43% lower than October’s increase. On a year-to-date basis, this brings cumulative net purchases to 570.2t, 11% higher the same period in 2018 (515.2t).
Adam Perlaky
Former Senior Analyst, Americas World Gold CouncilGold-backed ETF holdings reached all-time highs in 2019
Ray Jia
Research Head, China World Gold CouncilTakeaways from 2019 Annual Precious Metals Conference
Co-hosted by China Gold Association, World Gold Council, Shanghai Gold Exchange, Shanghai Futures Exchange and the Shanghai Gold and Jewellery Association, the 2019 Annual Precious Metals Conference was held in Shanghai on 10th and 11th December. Over 400 gold industry leaders and representatives from China and other regions participated. Here are a few key takeaways.
Mukesh Kumar
Former Senior Analyst, India World Gold CouncilWedding season revives gold demand in November a little – but the market is still soft
Summary
- Indian gold imports were 62.3t in October 2019 – 11% lower than the same month last year
- The domestic gold price declined by 2% in November, ending the month 20% higher than the end of 2018
- With the onset of the wedding season in November, the local market was back in premia of US$1/oz on 6th November after trading at discount for more than five months, but lower than expected wedding volumes pushed the market back into discount by end of November
- Late withdrawal of the monsoon, with heavy rainfall in several states of India, damaged kharif crops, leading to more than 50% of kharif crops trading below the minimum support price (MSP) due to high moisture content and little progress in procurement of crops from government . This will impact rural income in Q4 2019
Ray Jia
Research Head, China World Gold CouncilStocking up for Chinese New Year drove wholesale physical gold demand in November
Summary
- The Shanghai Gold Benchmark price (PM) extended its decline in November. The appreciating USDCNY has again made CNY-denominated gold prices weaker than the dollar gold price, resulting in another drop in local gold premium last month.
- Driven by elevated price volatility, Au(T+D)’s trading volume was higher m-o-m. Meanwhile, the industry’s stocking ahead of the Chinese New Year’s Festival led to a higher Au9999 trading volume and gold withdrawals from the Shanghai Gold Exchange (SGE) in November. • During the first ten months of 2019, China’s gold imports dropped by 41% y-o-y.
- While some investors have stepped away, Chinese gold ETFs’ gold holdings stabilised around the highest level since last October.
- The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) left its gold reserve unchanged at 1,948t in November.