New York (Platts)--10Mar2009
Central banks, which have been net sellers of gold in recent years,
were net buyers of an estimated 1.1 million oz in January, according to the
latest Market Alert by the CPM Group, the New York-based metals
consultancy. The world's central banks were both buyers and sellers, but
the quantity bought outstripped what was sold.
Ecuador is estimated to have purchased 920,000 oz of gold in January,
Venezuela bought 240,000 oz and Russia purchased 130,000 oz, after having
bought 310,000 oz in December.
"Ecuador's government has run into severe political and economic
problems, and has a dollarized economy, using the US dollar as its currency
and thus not having many monetary tools, such as being able to issue money
that other central banks possess," CPM noted.
France was the largest seller of gold in January by 40,000 oz and
10,000 oz, respectively.
"It seems highly unlikely that such large net purchases of gold by
central banks will continue," said CPM. "However, those central banks that
have been selling gold for much of the past two decades have sold most of
what they wanted to sell. Others are buying small volumes, and considering
larger purchases, in the face of the financial crises and currency market
volatility they have faced over the past year."
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