Gold
Fund directors split on excess gold profits
IMF’s executive board divided over use of windfall profit from gold sales; plans to revisit potential uses in late 2011
Central banks open new chapter as large net gold buyers
Thomson Reuters GFMS Gold Survey 2011 shows net official purchases of gold rose to more than 200 tonnes during the first half of the year; forecasts gold to reach $2,000 by year-end
Libya wants assets released sooner
Return of unfrozen Libyan assets "slow"; draft UN resolution circulated to release more
South Korea advertises for new reserve manager
Bank of Korea seeks reserve manager; follows first gold purchase for years this summer
Libyan gold sold as Gaddafi regime ended
“Official” central bank assets safe, says new central bank governor; former dictator sold 29 tonnes of gold as opposition closed in
Kazakhstan puts faith in gold
Governor announces central bank will buy entire domestic gold bullion output until at least 2014
Fears over Libyan central bank money realised: reports
Multi-vehicle convoy arrives in Niger carrying central bank cash and gold
Central banks’ flight to safety in reserve holdings continues
Reports continue to emerge from around the world of central banks diversifying their foreign currency reserves and adding to gold holdings
Sudan Central Bank seeks to build gold refinery
Central Bank of Sudan asks for tenders to construct a gold refinery in the country
RBI profits fall on low return from foreign assets
Reserve Bank of India reports a 20% decline in profits over the 12 months to June due to declines in income on foreign assets and higher expenditure costs
Costa Rica gold museum set to reopen
Central Bank supports $686,000 electrical upgrade; gold museum will reopen on September 3
Gaddafi may escape with central bank gold, says ex-Libyan governor
Former governor of the Central Bank of Libya Farhat Bengdara says Gaddafi may have run off with billions of dollars worth of gold; says Libyan leader attempted to sell bullion as bribe for security
Venezuela’s Chavez orders diversification of reserves
Hugo Chavez has asked the central bank to repatriate gold reserves and diversify holdings amid “global crisis of capitalism”; controversial president also plotting to nationalise gold industry
RBI paper says gold is misclassified in capital formation
A Reserve Bank of India study says valuables such as gold are misclassified in the gross capital formation as store value
South Korea follows through on gold purchase plans
South Korea buys $1.24 billion worth of gold; governor said in October 2010 that central bank was considering expanding gold holding
China ups gold coin production
People’s Bank of China more than doubles issuance of gold panda coins for 2011; demand outstripping minting
Gold holdings 'useless': CentralBanking.com panellist
Gold holdings are “useless” and a “remnant from the past”, according to Michael Hart, head of FX strategy at Roubini Global Economics
Slovakia falls €515 million into the red
National Bank of Slovakia Annual Report shows a €515 million loss for 2010 due to large write-downs on securities and derivatives
Mexico buys 93 tonnes of gold
Bank of Mexico raises gold holdings by more than 93 tonnes in March; follows trend of other emerging market central banks
Central banks continue to purchase gold
World Gold Council releases first Gold Investment Digest of 2011; shows central banks are still net buyers of gold in Q1
Central bank reserve managers recoil at sovereign risk
Central Banking Publications survey finds fears over sovereign risk led reserve managers to limit or cut exposure to “peripheral” European countries; impact also felt in attitudes towards the euro
Gold to hit $1,600 this year; GFMS survey
New survey by GFMS predicts price of gold could hit $1,600 per ounce by the end of 2011; survey captures swing to net purchases by central banks
Shift in central banks' attitude key driver of gold sentiment
World Gold Council's Natalie Dempster says central banks' renewed fondness for bullion was biggest driver of market trends in 2010
Central banks’ gold purchases continue; 20-year selling trend bucked
Official sector continued to be net buyers of bullion in three months to January; figures confirm that central banks were net buyers for first time in 20 years in 2010