Gold demand surges 21% in Q1 as investors vie for ETFs: WGC

Demand for gold soared by 21 per cent to 1,290 tonnes during the first quarter for this year mainly due to huge inflows into exchange traded funds (ETFs) and an uncertain financial landscape, says a report.
"Gold demand reached 1,290 tonnes in the first quarter of 2016, a 21 per cent increase, compared to 1,070 tonnes in the same quarter of 2015.
"This increase was driven by huge inflows into exchange traded funds fuelled by investor concerns regarding economic fragility and uncertain economic conditions," said the World Gold Council's 'Gold Demand Trends' report.
Inflows into ETFs totalled at 364 tonnes in the quarter compared to 26 tonnes in January-March quarter of 2015.

Investors mainly favoured gold as a risk diversifier due to the negative interest rate environment in Europe and Japan, combined with uncertainty over the Chinese economy, anticipation of slower interest rate rise in the US and global stock market turmoil, the report said.
In total, investment demand was at 618 tonnes, up 122 per cent from 278 tonnes in the same period last year that ignited a rally in the gold price which appreciated by 17 per cent in dollar terms during the quarter, it said.

However, the strong investment performance was not reflected in the jewellery sector as global demand was down by 19 per cent mainly driven by India and China.

Higher prices and industrial action in India and a softening of the economy in China has resulted in consumers delaying jewellery purchases, it said.
Total supply for the first quarter this year saw an
increase of 5 per cent at 1,135 tonnes against 1,081 tonnes in the year-ago period, the report said adding that mine supply was up 8 per cent at 774 tonnes.
Spurred by the uncertainty raised by negative interest rates, the investment sector was the dominant driver of gold demand, helping to push prices up 17 per cent over the course of the quarter, as ETF inflows swelled, WGC Head of Market Intelligence Alistair Hewitt said.

Conversely, jewellery demand endured a difficult quarter due to continued lack of consumer confidence in the face of a weakening Chinese economy and a 42-day strike by jewellers in India, he added.
"But we believe Indian demand has simply been postponed with buying likely to increase for Akshaya Tritiya and the wedding season. Looking ahead, we anticipate that ongoing market uncertainty and unconventional monetary policies will continue to support both investment and central bank demand," Hewitt said.
"This, combined with an expected recovery in India, should see gold demand remain healthy over the course of 2016," he added.