Demand for gold from central banks around the world continues to rise…banks bought 337 tonnes in the third quarter, bringing the total to 800 tonnes at the start of the year with a growth rate of 14%…selling only one. Tons in 9 months.

Islam Saeed wrote

Friday, December 1, 2023 06:30 PM

Since the beginning of the year, demand by central banks has increased by 14% year-on-year, reaching a new record level of 800 tonnes of gold.

Gold holdings reported by global central banks rose by a net 77 tonnes in September, as banks’ total sales of 78 tonnes were just 1 tonne, indicating strength in central banks’ gold purchases.

The World Gold Council showed that outflows from gold investment funds continued in October, but at a slower pace than in September, with outflows of $2 billion in October, the fifth consecutive monthly loss.

Since the start of the year, the funds’ investment holdings have declined by 6%, while the total value of assets managed by the funds has increased by 3% due to rising gold prices. Global outflows from gold-backed funds have reached US$13 billion since the start of the year. Equivalent to 225 tonnes of gold lost.

Gold neared a 6-month high in November on strong expectations in markets that the Federal Reserve has ended its interest rate hike cycle, and the time has come to set a date for a rate cut. Positive for gold prices.

Spot gold – at the time of writing the Gold Billion Technical Report – was trading at $2043 an ounce, up 0.4% after yesterday’s drop of 0.4% to a record low of $2031 an ounce.

In November, gold prices rose 2.6% to $53 an ounce, from a 6-month high of $2052 an ounce and a low of $1931.

Gold is on track to post a 2.2% gain this week, and prices are up around $43 an ounce, marking a third straight week of gains. October and November.

On the other hand, we see the US dollar post its biggest decline in a year in November, while the dollar index fell 2.9% to its lowest level in nearly 4 months. The Federal Reserve is holding off on raising interest rates, and it’s expected to start cutting interest rates in the first half of 2024.

As for the 10-year US government bond yield, it fell 12.3% in November to a nearly 3-month low of 4.247%, raising the prospect of gold gains due to its inverse correlation with gold. With bond yields, in addition to lower opportunity costs. As an alternative to gold, it does not provide income to its holders.

The current time frame sees the price of gold fluctuate below the resistance level of $2050 per ounce, before undergoing a negative correction in light of pressure on the price, before the price of gold reaches its all-time high targets of $2080 per ounce, then registers a target of $2100, and if the price breaks above the 2035 level, the dollar , until the 2025-2020 region, $ per ounce, after which the 2010 dollars support level will begin. ounce.

Following are the key events that influenced the gold price movement last November:

– Demand for safe havens, including gold, in financial markets has weakened as the war in Gaza has not reached a current ceasefire.

– The consumer price index (a key inflation indicator) in the United States of America fell to 3.2% in October, beating expectations of 3.3% and the previous reading of 3.7%.

The core personal consumption expenditure index (the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge) fell in October, bringing the annualized rate to 3.5%, down from the previous reading of 3.7% expected.

– Moody’s Credit Rating Agency downgraded the US outlook to negative after holding it steady while keeping the credit rating at its highest Aaa rating.

Moody’s pointed to rising downside risks related to US credit and debt as the main reason for downgrading the outlook.

– Minutes from the Federal Reserve Bank meeting showed bank members maintaining a tight monetary policy and a willingness to raise interest rates further if necessary, but with more caution.

Reports from members of the Federal Reserve show that if inflation rates continue to fall for more than a month, the bank may abandon some of its monetary tightening policy.