Gold
Bernanke delivers first student lecture
Fed chairman recounts origins of central banks and stresses their importance in first lecture to US students; lecture series takes place at key time as fierce Fed critic Ron Paul runs for president
South Africa records increase in value of gold reserves
SARB reveals $186 million rise in value of gold reserves; overall reserves value up $438 million
Reserve Bank of India working paper studies gold prices
Research looks at the links between gold prices and financial stability in India
EU freezes assets of Syrian central bank
Council of the European Union announces freeze on central bank assets among string of sanctions; EU “increasingly appalled” by situation in the country, says council
IMF approves conditional distribution of gold profits
International Monetary Fund agrees to distribute $1.1 billion of profits from gold sales; member countries must first pledge contributions to Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust
African central bankers embrace a new world order
Africa’s central bankers are adopting new approaches to managing their reserves as trade with Brics rises and the influence of developed nations wanes
Central banks bought close to 440 tonnes of gold in 2011
World Gold Council unveils report showing large central bank gold purchases in 2011; emerging economies lead the way in rebalancing their reserves to include more of the precious metal
Venezuela completes repatriation of gold reserves
Final shipment of 14 tonnes of gold arrives in Caracas; governor certain the central bank has the capabilities to protect the precious metal
World Gold Council predicts ‘record year’ for central bank gold purchases
Trend of central banks being net purchasers to continue; latest update from World Gold Council predicts ‘record year’ of buying
Venezuela begins gold repatriation
First shipment of Venezuelan gold reserves made; central bank says uncertainty in Europe was a factor in the decision to move the precious metal
Emerging market central banks lead gold rush
World Gold Council Global Demand Trends report shows central banks were net buyers of gold in third quarter of 2011, led by Russia, Bolivia and Thailand
Sanusi reveals ‘strategic’ decision to hold renminbi reserves
Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria explains why he made the decision to convert some of the country’s reserves into renminbi; says Nigeria left it “too late” to buy gold
The end of a monetary phenomenon
A gold-backed currency is the only viable alternative to failing fiat money, argues Kevin Dowd.
In gold we trust
Judy Shelton makes the case for the US government to issue bullion-backed bonds.
Interview: George Milling-Stanley
As George Milling-Stanley leaves his role as managing director, government affairs at the World Gold Council, he summarises gold market trends and its role in central banks' reserve portfolios
Priorities shift for reserve managers
Central bank reserve managers discuss focusing on safety of investments after the financial crisis; see uncertain future for global financial system
RBI paper denies large gold purchase drove up market prices
Reserve Bank of India study says 200-tonne purchase of gold from IMF did not have sizable impact on gold price trend
European central bank gold sales lowest since 1999
European central banks sold just 1.1 tonnes in last 12 months; lowest since Central Bank Gold Agreements began
Fund directors split on excess gold profits
IMF’s executive board divided over use of windfall profit from gold sales; plans to revisit potential uses in late 2011
Central banks open new chapter as large net gold buyers
Thomson Reuters GFMS Gold Survey 2011 shows net official purchases of gold rose to more than 200 tonnes during the first half of the year; forecasts gold to reach $2,000 by year-end
Libya wants assets released sooner
Return of unfrozen Libyan assets "slow"; draft UN resolution circulated to release more
South Korea advertises for new reserve manager
Bank of Korea seeks reserve manager; follows first gold purchase for years this summer
Libyan gold sold as Gaddafi regime ended
“Official” central bank assets safe, says new central bank governor; former dictator sold 29 tonnes of gold as opposition closed in
Kazakhstan puts faith in gold
Governor announces central bank will buy entire domestic gold bullion output until at least 2014