Gold demand slips from last year's record Q1, although retail investment demand remains steady

Global gold demand in Q1 2017 was 1,034 tonnes (t), a decline of 18% compared to the record Q1 in 2016, according to the World Gold Council's latest Gold Demand Trends report. Inflows into Exchange Traded Funds(ETFs) totalled 109t which, although solid, were nonetheless a fraction of last year's near-record inflows. Slower central bank demand also contributed to the weakness. Bar and coin investment, however, was healthy, at 290t, an increase of 9% year-on-year, while demand firmed slightly in both the jewellery and technology sectors.