We know what’s coming and we are prepared.
2023 Gold Demand Peaks Amid Global Uncertainties
The Global Gold Council's 2023 report unveils the complex dynamics of gold demand. Louise Street, a senior analyst, predicts that ongoing conflicts, trade tensions, and numerous global elections will likely steer investors towards gold.
This year, gold demand, excluding the over-the-counter (OTC) market, fell slightly to 4,448 tons, down 5% from last year. Yet, when including OTC and other sources, demand hit a record high of 4,899 tons, pushing the average annual gold price to its peak for 2023.
Central bank purchases maintained a swift pace, reaching 1,037 tons, the second-highest ever, only 45 tons below last year's record.
Despite strong demand from OTC and central banks, ETFs saw a third year of net outflows, totaling 244 tons, mainly in Europe.
Bar and coin investments dropped by 3%, balancing out with varying market strengths. European demand notably decreased by 59%, while China saw a 28% increase to 280 tons. India, Turkey, and the United States also reported significant rises.
The jewelry sector remained robust despite high prices, with a slight annual increase. China, recovering from COVID-19 lockdowns, saw a 17% rise in demand, contrasting with a 9% fall in India.
Mining output was stable with a 1% growth, and recycling went up by 9%, leading to a 3% increase in overall supply, which was lower than anticipated considering the high gold prices.
Street highlighted central banks' steady demand as a crucial support for the gold market, compensating for other market areas' weakness. She pointed out that geopolitical uncertainties often boost gold demand. With the expected influence of conflicts, trade tensions, and elections in 2024, investors might turn to gold as a safe asset.
Street also noted that central banks frequently mention gold's crisis performance as a purchase rationale, implying that this sector's demand is likely to stay strong.
Source
Meanwhile, here’s Don Jr. worshipping at the feet of another demon god in India.
Follow @zeeemedia
Website | X | Instagram | Rumble
The village of Piddington has voted for independence from the United Kingdom and to become a self governing village in a landslide vote.
91% Voting Leave
This comes after news that over 3,000 illegal migrants are to be dumped in their village.
Follow @zeeemedia
Website | X | Instagram | Rumble
🇺🇸🛢 The U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve has fallen to 283.8M barrels, its lowest level since October 1982.
A year ago, September 2025, the SPR held 406 million barrels.
The current drawdown traces back to a 172 million-barrel release President Trump authorized in March, part of a coordinated 400 million-barrel release by 32 IEA member countries. Discharge began about a week later and was expected to take roughly 120 days, with the administration pledging to refill about 200 million barrels within a year at no cost to taxpayers.
Two different floors govern how far the reserve can fall. Federal law sets an operational minimum of 252.4 million barrels, while the generally accepted operational minimum is 250 to 300 million barrels on hand to pump and process oil efficiently, a level it is now testing.
Ben Cahill, an energy analyst at the Atlantic Council, has warned the releases carry diminishing returns: "at a certain point it becomes a self-defeating move, because releasing more...
