India's Gold Market: ETFs and Central Bank Buying Shine Amid Jewelry Slump

Published: Thursday, 18 July 2024 10:10 | Print | Email
India's gold market in June 2024 showed a mixed performance, with investment demand and central bank purchases offsetting weak jewelry sales. Despite a slight decline in June, gold prices remained high, with year-to-date gains of 16%. Gold ETFs continued to see strong inflows, with assets under management reaching INR344bn, a 54% year-over-year increase. The Reserve Bank of India made its largest monthly gold purchase in nearly two years. However, jewelry demand remained subdued, and there was a significant widening of discounts between domestic and international gold prices. Looking ahead, jewelry demand is expected to pick up during the festival season starting in August, while interest in bars and coins is anticipated to continue.

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China's Gold Market: ETF Inflows Surge Despite Weak Wholesale Demand in June

Published: Thursday, 18 July 2024 10:04 | Print | Email
China's gold market in June 2024 showed mixed signals, with wholesale demand remaining weak while ETF inflows continued to strengthen. Gold withdrawals from the Shanghai Gold Exchange increased slightly from May but were significantly lower year-over-year, indicating persistent weakness in overall demand. However, Chinese gold ETFs saw their seventh consecutive monthly inflow, reaching record-high assets under management. The People's Bank of China reported no changes in gold reserves for the second month in a row. Despite a slight decline in gold prices in June, both RMB and USD-denominated gold prices showed substantial gains for the first half of 2024. Looking ahead, while high gold prices may pressure demand, economic uncertainties and low consumer confidence could support investment in gold bars and coins.

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Decoding the Drivers Behind Bullion's Sudden Ascent

Published: Thursday, 18 July 2024 09:53 | Print | Email
Gold's recent surge to record highs has puzzled market observers, as the traditional explanations for its rise - geopolitical tensions and expectations of interest rate cuts - don't fully account for the timing or magnitude of the increase. Since early March, gold has risen 14%, setting new records despite no significant changes in global tensions or clear signals about rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. Experts offer various theories for this sudden spike, ranging from central bank diversification strategies and algorithmic trading to persistent inflation concerns and currency weaknesses. The lack of a clear consensus highlights the complex interplay of factors influencing gold prices and underscores the difficulty in pinpointing a single cause for the precious metal's current rally.

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Despite Temporary Lull, China's Gold Buying Spree Far From Over, Say Insiders

Published: Thursday, 18 July 2024 09:43 | Print | Email
Despite a pause in gold purchases in May and June, China is expected to continue its long-term strategy of accumulating gold reserves. This ongoing interest is driven by several factors: China's gold holdings remain low relative to its economic status, geopolitical tensions persist, and there's a desire to diversify away from U.S. dollar-denominated assets. While recent buying has shown some price sensitivity, experts and insiders believe that China's fundamental need to increase its gold reserves, both in absolute terms and as a share of total reserves, will sustain the country's gold demand. The strategy is seen as part of China's broader effort to align its reserves with its position as the world's second-largest economy, although the pace of purchases may fluctuate based on market conditions and geopolitical developments.

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