Page 52 - Bullion World Issue 1 May 2021
P. 52

Bullion World | Issue 01 | May 2021

           the world. Eight years ago, the gold ETF   Looking at the first quarter, North   "The full impact of the pandemic is still
           market was mostly centralized in North   American funds saw total outflows of   unknown," he said. "We don't know the
           American, Artigas noted. But the market   145.4 tonnes, representing 86% of the   unintended consequences from all the
           is nearly evenly split among investors in   market, the WGC said. European funds   stimulus that has been pumped into the
           North America and Europe. He added   lost 51.7 tonnes during the quarter, with   global economy. We believethet thte
           that Asian investment demand is also   UK-listed funds accounting for most of   macro-economic environment in 2021
           seeing steady growth.             the outflows, the analysts added.  remains supportive for gold."

                                                                               Source: https://www.kitco.com

                                                        Britain buys most of Russia’s

                                                        gold exports in January,
                                                        worth over $700mn


                                                        Russia exported 13.73 tons of   exports in January. The metal was
                                                        rough gold in January, up 1.5   also delivered to Kazakhstan and
                                                        times year-on-year, according to  Switzerland.
                                                        data from the Federal Customs
                                                        Service. In monetary terms,   In 2020, Russia exported gold
                                                        exports almost doubled to $812   worth a total of $18.535 billion,
                                                        million, data shows. The customs  which is 3.2 times more than during
                                                        service said that, in December,   the previous year. In physical terms,
                                                        gold exports were higher – at 22  the export of gold in 2020 more
                                                        tons, worth $1.3 billion.  than doubled – up to 320 tons
                                                                                   against 123 tons in 2019.
                                                        Supplies to the United Kingdom
                                                        accounted for more than 90%   Source: https://www.rt.com
                                                        (12.9 tons) of all Russian gold




           Central bank and consumer buying in
           India and China arrest gold’s slide


           Gold buying by central banks and   Council. “It’s a reflection that demand
           consumers in India and China is stirring   was strong and is expected to be decent
           hopes for a recovery in the market,   going forward,” he said.
           which has been hit by a wave of selling
           this year driven by large exchange   Demand for gold jewellery has also
           traded fund outflows. The metal has   rebounded in India, where imports
           staged a tentative recovery in the   hit a near two-year high in March of
           past fortnight, rising about 2 per cent   98.6 tonnes, according to Bloomberg.
           as a handful of bullish factors have   “There’s been a sea change in sentiment   after “taking into account the country’s
                                                                               long-term national and economic policy
           converged.                        in Asia,” Rhona O’Connell, an analyst at
                                             brokerage StoneX in London, said. That   strategy objectives”. “The appearance
                                                                               of global spikes in government debts or
           Two indicators have pointed to robust   could provide a floor for gold prices if
           demand in China, the world’s biggest   central bank gold demand also remains   inflation concerns further increase the
                                                                               importance of gold in national strategy
           consumer. The price of gold in the   strong, she said.
           country has traded at a premium to                                  as a safe-haven asset and as a store of
                                                                               value,” Hungary’s central bank said.
           international prices in recent weeks, from   Central banks bought 8.8 tonnes of gold
           a discount in 2020. At the same time,   in February, driven by India, Uzbekistan,     Gold is still off about 8 per cent in 2021
           the amount of gold withdrawn from the   Kazakhstan and Colombia, according
           Shanghai Gold Exchange doubled in   to the World Gold Council, an industry   despite the recent pick-up as investors
                                                                               have shifted money into equities following
           March from a year earlier to 168 tonnes,   body made up of gold miners. Still, in
           according to exchange data. Much of   the first two months of the year overall,   the rollout of coronavirus vaccines in
                                                                               the US and Europe. The precious metal
           this gold will have been used to restock   central banks were net sellers of the
           inventories in the manufacturing and   metal, with sales totalling 17 tonnes,   has fallen out of favour in part due to
                                                                               rising bond yields, which make gold
           retail sector following a strong period   led by Turkey — the weakest start in
           during the Chinese Lunar New Year in   more than a decade. Hungary said last   less attractive since it does not provide
                                                                               investors with a fixed income stream.
           February, according to John Reade,   week it had increased its gold holdings
           chief market strategist at the World Gold   from 32 tonnes to 95 tonnes in March,   Source: https://www.ft.com

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