Even after nearly 18 months of buying, China's gold reserves account for roughly 4% of the PBC's total reserves. That figure is well below the reserve threshold by the central banks of developed countries.
Unlike paper currencies, gold has intrinsic value as it is a rare commodity that is difficult to extract. It also has multiple economic uses, in electronics, dentistry, medical tools, and the defense, aerospace, and automotive sectors.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) stood out with its continued accumulation of gold reserves. Weekly data from the RBI revealed a 6-tonne increase in gold holdings in February alone.
This brings the total year-to-date buying by the RBI to over 13 tonnes, with total gold reserves now reaching 817 tonnes.
Gold stocks have lagged in part because production costs have gone up 35% since early 2020, mainly due to higher labor costs. This is one reason why gold stocks are unlikely to hit their old highs unless gold moves a lot higher. But if the gold price rally simply continues, the miners will join in and rally.
Wealthy investors even put more money into “investments of passion” such as fine art, wine, and cars than they do in gold. These investments of passion make up 3% of the average wealthy investors’ portfolio .
Many investors believe gold shares have a negative correlation with stock markets — that it tends to rise in value during stock market corrections and crashes.
If you fear an imminent market crash or inflation surge, consider putting a small percentage of your net worth in gold simply as a defensive play — and to calm your nerves.
According to the WGC, “Central banks have been consistent net buyers on an annual basis since 2010, accumulating over 7,800t in that time, of which more than a quarter was bought in the last two years.
The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) regained the crown for the largest single gold buyer as it reported a total rise of 225t in its gold reserves over the year.
The National Bank of Poland was the second largest buyer in 2023. Between April and November, the central bank bought 130t of gold, increasing its gold holdings by 57%, to 359t.
Central bank purchases are only one of the three key drivers of the unprecedented rise in gold prices recently. A major concern is a dramatic uptick in geopolitical concern regarding the Middle East conflict as the real concern is that Iran will retaliate against Israel for its suspected bombing of the Embassy in Syria. Lastly, most analysts agree that gold will move higher once central banks, including the Federal Reserve begin the process of cutting their key benchmark interest rates.
Collectively, these three key driving factors taking gold higher will continue to move the precious yellow metal higher into what is now unknown price territory.
The People's Bank of China continued its streak of increasing gold reserves for the 17th consecutive month, bringing its total reserves to 72.75 million troy ounces in March.
There is a small amount of gold in some meteorites and other space debris that fall to Earth. In fact, some scientists believe that much of the Earth's gold may have originally come from outer space.
Nearly all the gold on Earth came from meteorites that bombarded the planet over 200 million years after it formed. The Earth's crust and mantle contain gold
Gold is relatively unreactive and resists degradation by air, moisture, or acidic conditions. While acids dissolve most metals, gold is dissolved using a special mixture of acids called aqua regia.
Gold is usually found in rivers and streams. This is because the flowing water washes away lighter materials and leaves behind the heavier materials, like gold.
Some plant species are known to absorb trace amounts of gold from the soil. Scientists have even experimented using plants to extract gold from contaminated soil.
Although gold is a heavy, dense metal, it's generally considered nontoxic. Therefore, gold is sometimes used as a food additive, particularly in luxury restaurants.
Gold is also being incorporated into drinks, such as the popular cinnamon schnapps Goldschläger. Each bottle contains small fragments of gold foil that can be consumed.
Gold is sometimes used as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-aging ingredient in cosmetics and beauty products. However, the amounts used are typically very small.
Gold is super flexible, and a single ounce of gold (about 28 grams) can be stretched into a gold thread that's 5 miles (8 km) long. Gold thread and embroidery have been used in textiles for centuries, especially in royal clothing.
In every single vehicle that NASA launches into space, gold is used in several ways. The metal is used in the circuitry, as well as to lubricate the mechanical parts. It's also used to coat the inside of the spacecraft, protecting the astronauts from infrared radiation and extreme temperatures.
A natural conductor of electricity, televisions and computers contain small amounts of gold. Also, older items like cameras and radios tend to have gold within their circuit boards.
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This book is the result of the author's many years of experience and observation throughout his 26 years in the stockbroking industry. It was written for general public to learn to invest based on facts and not on fantasies or hearsay....
ahbah
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Posted by ahbah > 2024-04-06 22:18 | Report Abuse
The World Gold Council analyst expects central banks' gold purchases to continue for several years.