|

China exported significantly more Gold to Hong Kong in February – Commerzbank

Data published this week by the Hong Kong Statistics Authority on Gold trade with China confirmed the picture of very weak demand for Gold in China, Commerzbank's commodity analyst Carsten Fritsch notes

Gold exports to China and Hong Kong come to a standstill in February

"According to the data, 26.4 tons more Gold were delivered from China to Hong Kong in February than vice versa. This was mainly due to a sharp rise in China's Gold exports to Hong Kong, which more than doubled month-on-month to 41 tons, the highest level in 10 years. In contrast, China's Gold imports from Hong Kong rose only slightly after falling to their lowest level in almost three years in January." 

"Net Gold exports from China to Hong Kong had therefore already occurred in January. Previously, this was only the case at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in April and May 2020, as supply chains were interrupted at the time due to the lockdowns. However, China's net Gold exports to Hong Kong almost five years ago were nowhere near the level seen last month." 

"Apparently, Gold demand in China was so weak in February that Gold traders exported the surplus Gold to Hong Kong and Switzerland in order to benefit from higher world market prices. Trade data from the Swiss customs authority had already painted a similar picture the previous week. Gold exports to China and Hong Kong came to a standstill in February, while Gold imports from China rose to 7 tons and from Hong Kong to 14 tons."

Author

FXStreet Insights Team

The FXStreet Insights Team is a group of journalists that handpicks selected market observations published by renowned experts. The content includes notes by commercial as well as additional insights by internal and external analysts.

More from FXStreet Insights Team
Share:

Editor's Picks

AUD/USD holds above 0.6900, three-month low as traders await US NFP report

AUD/USD struggles to register any meaningful recovery, trading above 0.6900 during the Asian session on Friday, near its lowest level since early July. The US Dollar sits near a one-and-a-half-year peak as oil-driven inflationary concerns counter reduced bets for an October Fed rate hike and the overnight pullback in US bond yields. Moreover, geopolitical risks support the safe-haven buck and weigh on the Aussie as traders now look to the US NFP report for a fresh impetus.


USD/JPY flatlines near 158.00 after hot Tokyo CPI; US NFP awaited

USD/JPY consolidates near 158.00, the top end of its weekly range during the Asian session on Friday, moving little after hotter-than-expected Tokyo CPI, which backs the case for more BoJ rate hikes. Meanwhile, the US Dollar retains a bullish undertone near a one-and-a-half-year top amid oil-driven inflation fears and geopolitical uncertainties. This, in turn, supports the currency pair, though intervention fears cap the upside as traders keenly await the US NFP report.

Gold remains confined in a range above $4,150; looks to US NFP for fresh impetus

Gold edges lower in a multi-day-old range during the Asian session on Friday as traders await the US NFP report for more cues about the Fed's policy path. The outlook will drive the US Dollar and the non-yielding bullion. Meanwhile, oil-driven inflation fears offset the overnight pullback in US bond yields, helping the USD to stand firm near a one-and-a-half-year high amid the US-Iran standoff. This, in turn, is seen as weighing on XAU/USD.

Near Protocol slides below $5.00 after Near Intents $4M exploit
Near Protocol (NEAR) uptrend has been cut short, as the price slides below $5.00 on Thursday. The correction comes after an exploit on the network’s Near Intents services, which affected deposits and withdrawals across 11 crypto networks. NEAR is currently trading at $4.88, below the daily high of $5.54, while falling momentum indicators suggest that sellers are gaining the upper hand.
Markets are pricing a Fed pause. The jobs data says the hike is still coming

The market has rapidly changed its mind about the Fed. Only a week ago, investors saw an October interest-rate hike as the most likely outcome. However, softer inflation and cautious comments from policymakers have since turned a pause into the dominant scenario.

Markets are pricing a Fed pause. The jobs data says the hike is still coming
The market has rapidly changed its mind about the Federal Reserve (Fed). Only a week ago, investors saw an October interest-rate hike as the most likely outcome. However, softer inflation and cautious comments from policymakers have since turned a pause into the dominant scenario. Yet beneath that dramatic repricing, the US economy is sending a considerably less dovish message.