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Gold Demand In One Chart: Physical vs Paper

ALWAYS, watch what they Do, not what they SAY!

China's demand for gold jumped 20% to 294 tonnes in the first quarter of 2013, while global gold demand overall slid 13% thanks to the dramatic rotation of demand from paper to physical. Chinese demand in gold bars and coins grew to 109.5 tonnes - more than double the five-year quarterly average of 43.8 tonnes. Central banks added 109.2 tonnes of gold to their reserves in Q1 2013, the ninth consecutive quarter of net purchases. But it was the Q1 ETF outflows of 176.9 tonnes, equating to a 7% decline in total gold ETF holdings that obscured the strong rise in investment for gold bars and coins at the retail level. In the face of the huge 'paper' gold ETF outflows, 'physical' gold demand surged to its highest in 18 months...

GOLD CHARTS


More from the WGC (world gold council) :

Overall total global demand for gold in Q1 2013 was 963t, down 19% from Q4 2012.

Marcus Grubb, Managing Director, Investment at the World Gold Council commented:

“The price drop in April, fuelled by non-physical moves in the market, proved to be the catalyst for a surge of buying that has left many retailers short of stock and refineries introducing waiting lists for deliveries. Putting this into context, sales of bars and coins, jewellery and consumption in the technology sector still make up 81% of the market.

“What these figures show is that even before the events of April, the fundamentals of the gold market remain robust with growing demand in India and China, central banks consistently adding gold to their reserves and strong buying of investment products such as gold bars and coins.”

The key findings from the report are as follows:

• Total demand in China totalled 294t in the first quarter, a rise of 20% on the same quarter last year, as the economy continued to pick up from the downturn experienced in the second half of 2012. Of that figure, jewellery demand in the quarter was a record 185t, up 19% on last year, while bar and coin investment was 110t, rising by 22% from last year.

• The Indian market also demonstrated a continued appetite for gold. Total demand was 257t, up 27% on the same quarter last year. Retail investment was up 52% while jewellery was up 15% on Q1 last year.

• Q1 2013 was the seventh consecutive quarter in which central banks acquired more than 100t of gold, and the ninth consecutive quarter in which central banks have been net purchasers as they diversify their portfolios. Central bank net purchases were 109t in Q1 2013, although the figure was 5% lower than the purchases a year ago.

• ETFs saw a net outflow of 177t in the quarter. By contrast there were strong inflows into other forms of investment: bar and coin demand was 378t, 10% higher than last year.

Marcus Grubb, Managing Director, Investment, at the World Gold Council commented further:

“Gold-backed ETFs, which made up 6% of gold demand in 2012, have seen some holders, primarily in the US, collect profits and move into equities. While gold ETF holdings are down, this has been balanced by 378t of investment in bars and coins, an increase of 10% on the same period last year, and up 12% on Q4 2012.

“Overall, the long-term appetite for investment remains strong, demonstrated by the continued demand for bars and coins."
I was ‘COINB0Y' with 4812 posts and ‘Expert Collector’ ranking (Joined in 2006).

Comments

  • OPAOPA Posts: 17,121 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The only sentence that counts as far as the price of Gold is: "It was the Q1 ETF outflows of 176.9 tonnes, equating to a 7% decline in total gold ETF holdings that obscured the strong rise in investment for gold bars and coins at the retail level." The ETF's, as of now, are the market makers for all commodities which include all PM's.
    "Bongo drive 1984 Lincoln that looks like old coin dug from ground."
  • jmski52jmski52 Posts: 22,863 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Germany wants their gold. They aren't willing to settle for an ETF paper position.
    Q: Are You Printing Money? Bernanke: Not Literally

    I knew it would happen.
  • C0INB0YC0INB0Y Posts: 627 ✭✭


    << <i>The ETF's, as of now, are the market makers for all commodities which include all PM's. >>



    This is the Tool of the Banksters to confiscate as much as they can. It is NOT working (so far).

    The Banksters will take the ETF's down as far as the can.

    However, physical holders can simply hedge the pricing that is coupled to GLD with DUST or another short ETF.
    I was ‘COINB0Y' with 4812 posts and ‘Expert Collector’ ranking (Joined in 2006).
  • cohodkcohodk Posts: 19,143 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I believe the world gold council through a subsidiary manages one or more etfs.

    The glaring comment to me was global gold demand dropped 19%.
    Excuses are tools of the ignorant

    Knowledge is the enemy of fear

  • BaleyBaley Posts: 22,660 ✭✭✭✭✭
    How many people and institutions on the planet have pretty much all the gold they're likely to want at these current prices or higher, but might be buyers of additional metal if prices went lower?

    Some folks on these forums might be among them? image

    Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry

  • jmski52jmski52 Posts: 22,863 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The glaring comment to me was global gold demand dropped 19%.

    Some people take things out of context.

    Other people take the whole context out of an entire report and focus on the single statement that supports their position.

    The report gives various specific data, but it doesn't detail how the 19% drop in global gold demand was figured. With all of the increased demand from China, India, central banks, and investment demand in bars & coins, there is obviously either a glaring omission about some huge sell orders or some kind of omission in the wording of the statement.

    Where did this drop in global demand come from? Somebody, somewhere had to be selling alot of gold. Any news from anywhere that might shed some light on it?image
    Q: Are You Printing Money? Bernanke: Not Literally

    I knew it would happen.
  • derrybderryb Posts: 36,825 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Germany wants their gold. They aren't willing to settle for an ETF paper position. >>


    Looks like they will have to settle for waiting for it to be "unleased" to an ETF.

    Could the recent price decline have anything to do with bringing back leased ETF gold that is suddenly being demanded by its rightful owners?

    "Interest rates, the price of money, are the most important market. And, perversely, they’re the market that’s most manipulated by the Fed." - Doug Casey

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