What does China’s economic revival mean for gold?

Gold demand in China, in particular, investment demand, has benefited from rising concerns for the economy as well as the lowered opportunity cost amid the COVID-19 outbreak and the central bank’s response to it. But with signs of a potential economic recovery emerging, can we expect gold’s attractiveness as a safe haven in China to fade? We believe that the answer is ‘No’.

Posted 3 years 4 months ago

Takeaways 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.

Posted 3 years 10 months ago

Stocking 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.

Posted 3 years 10 months ago

Hard-pure gold jewellery in China: calling for standards

The discovery of the process to harden pure gold has formed the foundation for all innovative pure gold products and become an important feature favoured by consumers and jewellers... The hard-pure gold jewellery market is booming but lacks an industry standard defining these products and providing industry guidance.

The World Gold Council China team has been working with the National Jewellery Standardisation Committee, industry associations and leading Chinese jewellers, to draft proper standards for hard-pure gold jewelleries.

Posted 3 years 10 months ago

China’s gold market soft in October

  • The Shanghai Gold Benchmark price fell slightly in October as the appreciating USDCNY offset the rise in US dollar-denominated gold price. This pushed the local gold price to a discount, the first in 12 months
  • Impacted by the weak performances of CNY-denominated gold prices, speculative demand dropped further. Trading volume of Au9999 continued its decline during the month on weaker physical gold demand
  • During the first ten months of 2019, China’s gold imports dropped by 41% y-o-y
  • Three new gold-backed ETFs were approved in October, raising the total number of gold-backed ETF products in China to seven
  • The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) didn’t purchase any gold in October, leaving its gold reserves at 1,948t.

Posted 3 years 11 months ago

Chinese gold ETFs’ AUM reached all-time high in September while physical demand remains soft

  • The Shanghai Gold Benchmark price saw a modest decline in September, with the local gold premium falling sharply due to the stabilising currency and increasing gold imports.
  • Led by the declining gold price and the soft physical demand, both Au(T+D) and Au9999’s trading volume dropped last month while loadouts from the Shanghai Gold Exchange (SGE) levelled off.
  • After hitting the lowest level since 2017 in July, gold imports to China rebounded in August.
  • The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) added another 6t to its gold reserves in September. After ten consecutive purchases, the PBoC now holds 1,948t gold in its reserves.

Posted 4 years ago

Gold, inflation and pork in China

  • Inflation is on the rise in China, reaching 2.8% in August 2019, the highest in 18 months; leading economists expect it to rise further by the end of the year
  • African swine flu has wiped out a third of China’s pig livestock since last August, contributing substantially to the rising inflation
  • Looking back at history, when inflation rose above 3% the nominal return of the local gold price has averaged 17%

Posted 4 years 1 month ago

Chinese gold premium hit six-year high in August

  • In August, Shanghai Gold Benchmark (PM) rose 11% to 355 yuan/gram and the local gold premium peaked at a six-year high.
  • While Au(T+D)’s trading volume in August surged to a new all-time high, gold withdrawals from the Shanghai Gold Exchange (SGE) declined again last month.
  • Gold imports dropped to 44t in July, the lowest since 2017.
  • The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) added another 6t to its gold reserves in August.

Posted 4 years 1 month ago