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China's February net gold imports through Hong Kong almost halved m/m

China's net gold imports through Hong Kong dropped about 48% in February to the most affordable level since November, data revealed on Tuesday.

Net imports stood at 39.826 metric tons in February and were down from 76.248 loads in January, according to information from the Hong Kong Census and Stats Department.

Overall gold imports via Hong Kong, that include re-exports, were down about 45% at 45.297 heaps.

It sounds as if global bank import quotas have been delayed as the government protected the currency which is probably the essential problem here, stated StoneX analyst Rhona O'Connell.

Regional homeowners are still fretted about the residential or commercial property sector and there has been an increased unwillingness to commit to any discretionary costs, however there is growing interest in purchasing gold as a danger hedge, she included.

Markets in leading customer China were closed for a week beginning with Feb. 10 for the Lunar New Year vacations.

Individuals's Bank of China controls the amount of gold entering the country through quotas to business banks.

Last month, Chinese dealerships sold gold at premiums of anywhere between $36-$ 55 an ounce over worldwide benchmark area prices, compared with the $37-$ 57 range seen in January.

The Hong Kong data may not offer a total picture of Chinese purchases, as gold is also imported through Shanghai and Beijing.

Showing a comparable pattern, Switzerland- the world's. biggest bullion refining and transit hub

exported

54,625 kilograms (kgs) of gold to China in February, down. from 77,807 kgs in January.

In other places, India this month permitted its central bank to. import gold

without paying import levies

.