Total assets under management (AUMs) in gold-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs) hit record highs of $271 billion in 2024, according to the World Gold Council (WGC).
This represented a 26% year-on-year increase and was driven by a soaring bullion price.
The yellow metal hit new all-time highs on 40 occasions last year, the WGC noted. Over the whole year, gold appreciated 26% in value to around $2,629 per ounce.
Source – Forbes
Shipments of refined copper from the central African country jumped by 71% year-on-year to 1.48 million metric tons in 2024. The Congo is now by some margin the largest supplier of refined metal to the world’s largest buyer.
The Congo’s share of Chinese copper imports has risen from 10% in 2020 to 36.7% with volumes steadily increasing over the fourth quarter. December’s imports of 167,735 tons were a new monthly record.
Source – Reuters
Gold fell more than 1% on Tuesday as signals of easing U.S.-China trade tensions reduced some safe-haven demand, while investors braced for key economic data this week to gauge the Federal Reserve’s policy outlook.
Spot gold was down 1.2% at $3,300.57 an ounce as of 9:50 a.m. ET (1350 GMT). U.S. gold futures fell 1.1% to $3,310.20.
“There is some optimism that there will be some de-escalation of the trade war between the U.S. and China,” said David Meger, director of metals trading at High Ridge Futures.
“We’ve seen the equity markets rebound over the course of the last several sessions. So there’s been a bit of a lesser need for safe havens like gold.”
Spot silver rose 0.1% to $33.2 an ounce, platinum eased 0.3% to $983.26 and palladium lost 0.8% to $941.51
Source – Reuters
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a statement Thursday it revised import figures from April to November after discovering the discrepancy, which had resulted from migrating to a new data transmission system.
The miscalculation led to a four-fold increase in gold imports to a record $14.8 billion in November, causing the trade deficit to widen to $37.8 billion.
Preliminary revisions show gold imports were $37.39 billion in the April-November period, down $11.7 billion from previously reported.
Source – Bloomberg / Live Mint
Gold prices rose on Friday as investors turned to the safe-haven asset after United States President Donald Trump imposed fresh tariffs on a broad range of countries, while the market’s focus shifted to the U.S. non-farm payrolls report.
Spot gold was up 0.3% at $3,299.54 per ounce, as of 1119 GMT. However, bullion is down 1.4% so far this week.
U.S. gold futures rose 0.1% to $3,351.40.
“The incoming US jobs report may also trigger another big move for gold. Another demonstration of resilience by the U.S. jobs market could send gold southbound towards $3,200,” Han Tan, chief market analyst at Nemo.Money.
Spot silver fell 0.7% to $36.49 per ounce, platinum lost 1.6% at $1,269.27 and palladium was down 1.7% at $1,170.35.
Source – Reuters
Gold fell to a near three-week low on Monday as a U.S.-European Union trade accord lifted the dollar and risk sentiment, while investors awaited fresh cues on rate policy from this week’s Federal Reserve meeting.
Spot gold fell 0.6% to $3,316.03 per ounce as of 11:36 a.m. ET (1536 GMT), after touching its lowest level since July 9, earlier in the session. U.S. gold futures were down 0.7% at $3,313.2 per ounce.
“I think the more trade announcements we get, the more the dollar increases. These tariff deals are dollar friendly, lowering the allure of gold and driving the sell-off amid a risk-on sentiment,” said Marex analyst Edward Meir.
Spot silver was down 0.1% at $38.12 per ounce and platinum fell 0.6% to $1,393.25, while palladium gained 2.1% to $1,245.52.
Source – Reuters
They have been working flat out to do what the Bank describes as “digging out” gold bars for delivery to traders who’ve seized on a rare arbitrage opportunity thrown up by speculation that Donald Trump will impose tariffs on the precious metal, alongside a raft of other imported goods.
The Bank’s vault keepers are busier than they’ve been in years, logistics companies are working overtime, and refineries are booked out for months with orders to recast gold bars from London into a form that can be delivered into the US futures market.
“What’s happening in the London market is a short term logistical thing, but it’s having real consequences,” said John Reade, senior market strategist at the World Gold Council, the industry lobby group. “There’s not as much gold in London as normal, but again, there’s still lots there. And once it can get out from behind the Bank of England, then everything should calm down.”
Source – Bloomberg
