Tag: gold

  • Vietnam largest bullion market in Southeast Asia

    Vietnam largest bullion market in Southeast Asia

    Vietnam was Southeast Asia’s largest gold bullion and coin market last year and among the top 10 globally.

    The demand in the country exceeded 31.1 metric tons compared to 28.7 tons in Thailand and 19.8 tons in Indonesia, according to the World Gold Council.

    If the jewelry was included, it went up to 43 tons, the second-highest behind Indonesia’s 46.8 tons.

    Vietnam was the fourth largest market in Asia for bullion and coins behind India, Sri Lanka, and China, and the eighth largest in the world.

    Gold continued to be the top asset class for 72 percent of Vietnamese investors, the WGC said citing a study of 2,000 investors last year.0

    The outlook for the precious metal is positive with 81 percent of investors who previously invested in gold saying they would consider doing so again.

    To put that in perspective, the rates are 72 percent for Chinese and 67 percent for Indians, with the global figure standing at 45 percent.

    There is strong support for gold market liberalization in Vietnam, with 76 percent saying they should be allowed to open a gold investment account at banks to formalize the gold market.

    Fifty-five percent called for setting up a gold exchange or trading platform authorized by the State Bank of Vietnam.

    Vietnam’s gold prices are now near the all-time high of VND63.5 million (US$2,787) per tael of 37.5 grams recorded on Jan. 25. A tael equals 37.5 grams or 1.2 ounces.

    On Feb. 16 it cost VND62.9 million, VND11.6 million higher than global prices.

  • Vietnam largest bullion market in Southeast Asia

    Vietnam largest bullion market in Southeast Asia

    Vietnam was Southeast Asia’s largest gold bullion and coin market last year and among the top 10 globally. The demand in the country exceeded 31.1 metric tons compared to 28.7 tons in Thailand and 19.8 tons in Indonesia, according to the World Gold Council. If the jewelry was included, it went up to 43 tons, the second-highest behind Indonesia’s 46.8 tons.

    Vietnam was the fourth largest market in Asia for bullion and coins behind India, Sri Lanka, and China, and the eighth largest in the world. Gold continued to be the top asset class for 72 percent of Vietnamese investors, the WGC said citing a study of 2,000 investors last year.

    The outlook for the precious metal is positive with 81 percent of investors who previously invested in gold saying they would consider doing so again. To put that in perspective, the rates are 72 percent for Chinese and 67 percent for Indians, with the global figure standing at 45 percent. There is strong support for gold market liberalization in Vietnam, with 76 percent saying they should be allowed to open a gold investment account at banks to formalize the gold market.

    Fifty-five percent called for setting up a gold exchange or trading platform authorized by the State Bank of Vietnam. Vietnam’s gold prices are now near the all-time high of VND63.5 million (US$2,787) per tael of 37.5 grams recorded on Jan. 25. A tael equals 37.5 grams or 1.2 ounces. On Feb. 16 it cost VND62.9 million, VND11.6 million higher than global prices.

  • Vietnam gold prices rise to new record

    Vietnam gold prices rise to new record

    Gold prices in Vietnam hit a new peak Monday ahead of the God of Wealth Day amid surging demand.

    Saigon Jewelry Company (SJC) sold its gold at VND63.5 million ($2,801.49) per tael Monday afternoon, up 1.02 percent from Friday. A tael equals 37.5 grams or 1.2 ounces.

    Prices at another major reseller, DOJI, stood at VND63.4 million.

    The increase came ahead of the annual God of Wealth Day on Friday. This is the time when Vietnamese often purchase gold with the belief that the metal could bring good fortune to their business and family through Lunar New Year.

    Global gold prices hit a more than the one-week peak of $1,812.80 per ounce Monday, as inflationary pressures due to surging oil prices helped cushion the impact of a U.S. Treasury yield rally after an upbeat jobs report.

    “Gold is getting a little bit defensive, realizing that we could be in this state for hyperinflation,” Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management said.

  • FLC launches jewelry brand

    FLC launches jewelry brand

    Conglomerate FLC on Wednesday entered the jewelry industry with the new brand FJC, establishing its first store in Hanoi.

    Located at Bamboo Airways Tower in Cau Giay District, FJC’s first store sells 24-karat gold, jewelry, diamond and fengshui accessories.

    The jewelry business will help FLC complete its ecosystem, which already includes real estate, aviation and tourism, said FLC Deputy Chairwoman Dang Luu Van, who is also the chairwoman of FJC.

    More FJC stores will be set up at FLC resorts and urban areas across the country, she added.

    The main competitors of FJC will be long-established jewelry brands like Saigon Jewelry Company (SJC), Phu Nhuan Jewelry (PNJ) and DOJI.

    FLC targets a revenue of VND27 trillion and profit of VND2.1 trillion this year, double from last year.

  • Gold prices hit new peak

    Gold prices hit new peak

    Vietnam’s gold price hit a new historic peak of VND62.7 million ($2,769.32) per tael Tuesday, surpassing the previous record in August 2020, even as global rates went flat.

    Saigon Jewelry Company (SJC) sold its gold at VND62.7 million per tael Tuesday, up 1.2 percent to a new record. A tael equals 37.5 grams or 1.2 ounces.

    Jewelry company DOJI sold its gold at around VND62.6 million and Phu Nhuan Jewelry, for VND62.3 million.

    Global rates were little changed at $1,840.49 per ounce Tuesday afternoon as concerns about a faster pace of policy tightening by the U.S. central bank countered safe-haven demand, fueled by escalating tension over Ukraine.

    Vietnam’s gold is now VND12 million, or 23.7 percent, higher than global rates.

  • 5 Signs It’s The Right Time To Start Investing In Gold

    5 Signs It’s The Right Time To Start Investing In Gold

    Gold is a precious metal with intrinsic value that can fetch you great returns. Aside from diversification, gold can serve as a hedge against inflation and protects your finances against market inconsistency. Moreover, it is believed to have high liquidity status, meaning it can easily be converted to cash.

    Investment in gold, good or bad, is the result of timing. When you buy when others are selling, you’re probably going to overpay. And when you sell when others are buying, you could be losing. So, you need to know when the perfect opportunity to start investing to avoid risks. The signs are always there, but how do you read them? Read on to learn more. 

    What It Means To Save In Gold

    People see gold as more tangible than money and less political compared to legal tender. Equity investors and traders could trade all day and not feel the weight of their money, which is often stored in the bank. But buying gold coins is different. The materiality it provides and that sense of natural objects like precious metals filling up your bag are incomparable. 

    Investment in gold is long-term, not short-term. Returns are regarded as mostly stable across countries. An increase in the value of gold is usually at the expense of falling equities. Therefore, investment returns build up over time when equities have started to lose weight. There are several benefits to investing in gold. Some of these include:

    • Store Of Value: Gold can be saved for future purposes due to its intrinsic value and be trusted to appreciate rather than depreciate.
    • Transaction Motive: You can easily convert gold to fiat money and exchange it for goods and services. 
    • Speculative Purpose: When you’re speculating, you’re trying to find gaps in the market for rewards. Gold is perfect for leveraging the rate of returns. 
    • Precautionary Purpose: The market is very volatile, so it’s wise to take precautions. Gold has proven itself to be a leveler against an uncertain future time and time again.
    • Little Maintenance: Unlike money invested in real estate, gold doesn’t require any form of maintenance from you. You can buy gold coins and keep them in your storage unit for many years.

    While other assets like money and real estate are risky at some points, gold has always maintained its standard and value. The returns are consistent and values remain largely appreciated. If you’re new at buying metals and need to get some gold coins, try online sources such as https://www.oxfordgoldgroup.com and others similar to it. Nevertheless, you still need to know when it’s time to buy or not.

    How Do You Know If It’s Time To Invest In Gold

    Although gold is a luxury good, it can still trade like stocks. In such a case, the precious metal is prone to market decisions. This is why you need to know the signs before buying or selling to make the right investment decisions. Not sure how to assess them? Here are tips to help:

    • Fall In Equities

    The response of gold to the stock market’s struggles has been positive. When there’s a fall in equities, there’s generally a rise in gold coins. This has been the case over the years. Hence, there’s an inverse relationship between gold and equities. 

    The reason for this is simple. The value of equities is mostly the worth of the actual printed paper which reflects political and economic uncertainties. Investors hold gold to protect themselves against these uncertainties as well as market volatility. 

    Gold value is stable across countries and isn’t easily affected by systematic and political risks. So, a fall in equities can only mean one thing for a gold investor like you—it’s time to invest in as many gold coins and other of its forms as possible.

    • Downward Trend In Other Investments

    A fall in equities leads to an attendant effect on other investments such as real estate. The slide affects almost every currency and investment tied to equities, except gold. This is because gold is the true standard of value; therefore, it reacts positively to changes in other assets.

    If you can’t easily read the signs of falling equities, you can look at other currencies to compare. There’s a positive relationship between equities and real estate, for example. Whenever the latter’s prices are up, influenced by the former, you should know it’s time to get gold. 

    • Gold-Silver Ratio

    The ratio of silver to gold is the proportion of silver you can hold at a certain amount of gold. For instance, if the ratio of silver to gold is 2:1, it means you can have two silver coins at the expense of one gold coin. 

    Being familiar with ratios can inform your gold-buying or gold-selling decisions. When the percentage of silver is higher compared to gold, it means you should buy less gold and sell more if you’re holding. But when it’s lower against gold, it suggests the perfect time to invest in more gold withholdings.

    • Decrease In Gold Prices

    Gold is an intrinsic value, meaning it can generate value for itself and be measured for what it’s worth. Consequently, the price of gold can determine if it’s best to buy or sell. 

    When the price of gold goes up, it shows the demand for gold is higher than its supply. It means many people prefer to hold gold rather than sell it. When this happens, gold is scarce, and inflation sets in. In that case, it’s wise to sell gold rather than buy.

    However, when the price of gold comes down, the primary reason is that the demand for gold is lower than its supply. Suppliers are selling more gold coins than people would want to buy. In this case, you should invest in as many gold coins as you want.

    • Point On Moving Average

    Where is the gold value located on the moving average in the last few days? If you must invest, you should put in the time to check information about the former. Moving averages are calculated by dividing the closing price of gold for the total number of periods by its number of periods. 

    So, if the price of gold is above the moving average, it’s a clear sign that you shouldn’t be buying. It’s probably saying demand is higher than supply. But if the price is at the moving average or below it, there’s little demand for gold. During these times is a good time that you should invest in gold right away. 

    Final Thoughts

    Investing in gold is a decision influenced by timing. If the timing is right, you should buy gold. But if it’s wrong, you’d probably be overpaying for a commodity that may bring you financial losses. Some signs help with the timing. You should be able to find them and learn how to properly analyze them before investing.

     

  • Gold price gains in eighth session

    Gold price gains in eighth session

    Vietnam’s gold prices climbed up for the eighth straight session Wednesday even as global rates steadied because of rising dollars.

    Saigon Jewelry Company (SJC) sold its gold at VND62.15 million ($2,727.65) per tael in the morning, up 0.57 percent from Tuesday afternoon. A tael equals 37.5 grams or 1.2 ounces.

    This means gold prices are 0.24 percent away from the previous historic peak last year.

    Since early November, gold has gained 6.6 percent.

    Vietnam’s gold is now VND11.25 million more expensive than global rates.

    Globally, spot gold rose 0.2 percent to $1,854.39 per ounce Wednesday, a marginal gain as a jump in U.S. retail sales kept the dollar close to a 16-month high.

    U.S. retail sales jumped in October, topping expectations, in an indication that high inflation was not yet dampening spending, even as worries about the rising cost of living sent consumer sentiment tumbling to a 10-year low in early November.

  • Vietnam gold prices reach another year’s peak

    Vietnam gold prices reach another year’s peak

    Vietnam’s gold prices hit another high this year of over VND61 million ($2,677.51) per tael as global prices soared to a five-month high.

    Saigon Jewelry Company (SJC) sold its gold for VND61.1 million per tael Tuesday morning, up 0.49 percent from Monday. A tael equals 37.5 grams or 1.2 ounces.

    DOJI sold its gold at VND60.9 million, up 0.33 percent.

    This means there is now a VND9.8 million gap between Vietnamese, and the global gold rate.

    Gold prices are now at $1,862.81 per ounce after rallying to a five-month peak in the previous session, as concerns over broadening inflationary risks kept bullion’s safe-haven appeal intact in the face of a stronger U.S. dollar and elevated bond yields.

    Some analysts anticipate further increases, while others remain conservative about the $1,870 resistance.

  • Gold prices hit 15-month high

    Gold prices hit 15-month high

    Vietnamese gold prices are now at a 15-month high and, as always, well above global rates.

    The Saigon Jewelry Company (SJC) sold bullion at VND60.75 million ($2,682.23) per tael Saturday morning, up 0.75 percent from Friday. A tael equals 37.5 grams or 1.2 ounces.

    This made them around VND10 million or 19.7 percent higher than global prices.

    A spokesperson for SJC said that the gap is widening because Vietnamese prices are becoming less dependent on global rates and relying increasingly on domestic supply and demand.

    Global rates have risen by 5.26 percent to $1,864.74 per ounce since Nov. 4, bolstered by deepening fears of inflation and reassurances from major central banks that interest rates would remain low for the time being.

    Traders are taking profits after an incredible run, Phillip Streible, chief market strategist at Blue Line Futures in Chicago, told Reuters.

    Societe Generale analysts forecast gold prices to average $1,950 an ounce in the first quarter of 2022, given the “renewed commitment from the Federal Reserve to support the economy while letting inflation printing higher”.

    Gold consumption in the third quarter fell by half year-on-year to 3.3 tons as jewelry stores closed due to Covid-19 restrictions, according to a report by the World Gold Council.

  • Vietnamese remain keen on gold

    Vietnamese remain keen on gold

    Despite stock, Bitcoin boom, Vietnamese investors are still interested in gold, according to the World Gold Council.

    Local individual investors’ demand for gold would climb when the pandemic is controlled, the vaccination rate increases and economic growth becomes more stable, Andrew Naylor, the WGC’s CEO for the Asia-Pacific (excluding China), said.

    A report titled ‘Gold Demand Trends Q3, 2021’ it released recently said consumption of both jewelry gold and gold bars and coins halved year-on-year in the third quarter to one ton and two tons.

    He said gold sales in Vietnam were affected mainly by social distancing imposed to battle Covid-19.

    He hoped Vietnam would establish an electronic trading floor for gold investors.

    Many Vietnamese are interested in buying gold online, and could buy small quantities of gold rings or coins every month instead of a large quantity at one time, he said.

    However, other investment options such as stocks and cryptocurrencies are more attractive than gold now.

    Vietnam’s benchmark VN-Index downed 0.56 percent to 1,444.3 Wednesday after reaching a new peak Tuesday. Trading value on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), on which the index is based, rose nearly 50 percent to VND43.21 trillion.

    Meanwhile, Bitcoin surged to over $63,000 on Nov. 2, up from $43,000 on Oct. 1.

    Vietnamese have recently tended to invest more in high-risk asset classes, but remain interested in gold, while conservative investors always consider gold a safe investment, Naylor said.

    Real estate remains an attractive option though the market has slowed down amid the Covid outbreaks.

  • Inflation rate lowest in five years

    Inflation rate lowest in five years

    Vietnam’s inflation rate in the first 10 months was 1.81 percent, the lowest since 2016.

    In October alone, inflation fell 0.2 percent from September, as lifted restrictions in localities help boost goods transport and reduce stockpiling demand, General Statistics Office reported.

    Demand for electricity and water also fell as the country transitioned from summer to fall while decreasing rents also contributed to lower inflation, it added.

    Gold prices fell 0.21 percent from September as global rates dropped.

    Vietnam targets to keep inflation rise under 4 percent this year.

  • Gold price hits 12-month high

    Gold price hits 12-month high

    Vietnam’s gold price climbed to a 12-month high Monday even as global prices dropped.

    Prices at state-owned Saigon Jewelry Company rose 0.05 percent from Saturday to VND57.98 million ($2,552.79) per tael Monday. A tael equals 37.5 grams or 1.2 ounces.

    Other companies sold their gold 0.17 percent higher at VND58 trillion, a 12-month high.

    Vietnam’s gold price is now VND10 million higher than global rates, widening from VND8 million a month ago.

    Global gold prices were subdued Monday over fears the U.S. Federal Reserve would start paring its stimulus this year despite Friday’s weak job data.

    Spot gold inched 0.1 percent lower to $1,755.68 per ounce.

    Spot gold may bounce into the $1,763-$1,768 range, before resuming its fall towards a support of $1,724, according to Reuters technical analyst Wang Tao.

  • Gold producers want proposed new tax scrapped

    Gold producers want proposed new tax scrapped

    The Vietnam Gold Traders Association has called on the government to scrap its plan to impose a 2-percent export tax, warning it could hurt the country’s competitiveness.

    Vietnam already has low competitiveness compared to other countries and would cause official exports to fall and illegal exports to avoid the tax to surge, it said in a proposal to the Ministry of Finance.

    The VGTA said companies are not allowed to import gold to produce jewelry, but has to source them domestically even though prices are often VND6-8 million ($264-352) per kilogram higher.

    Countries like Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore impose no import or export tax and have more advanced technology, it said.

    They encourage jewelry exports, which are worth $10 billion for Thailand, $8 billion for Singapore, and $6 billion for Indonesia.

    Vietnam’s exports were worth $2.6 billion last year.

    There is currently no tax for jewelry with gold content under 95 percent, but the Ministry of Finance has proposed taxing all uniformly, saying customs officials have difficulty in determining gold purity.

  • Vietnam largest gold market in Southeast Asia

    Vietnam largest gold market in Southeast Asia

    Vietnam is the largest gold market in Southeast Asia and among the top 10 markets in the world, a recent study has found.

    Last year consumer demand in Vietnam was 39.8 tons, higher than Indonesia’s 37.6 tons and Singapore’s 9.4 tons, according to the World Gold Council (WGC).

    Gold is the top asset class for 68 percent of Vietnamese investors, it said citing a study of 2,000 investors in March last year.

    The outlook for the precious metal is positive with 81 percent of people who bought gold in the past considering buying more, nearly twice the global average of 45 percent.

    Seventy-six percent supported opening a gold investment account at banks to formalize the gold market. Currently, most buy gold at shops.

    “Research shows demand for gold in Vietnam is strong and there is support to develop new investment products such as buying gold through digital platforms or opening a gold investment account,” Andrew Naylor, director in charge of ASEAN at the World Gold Council, said.

  • Consumer Confidence in Gold Returns

    Consumer Confidence in Gold Returns

    While gold investment demand fell in the first quarter, this was mitigated by the strength of retail purchases of bars and coins, as well as gold jewelry.

    Gold-backed exchange-traded funds saw 177.9 tons of outflows in the first quarter of 2021 – a 23-percent drop year-on-year – amid rising Treasury yields, according to the World Gold Council’s Gold Demand Trends Q1 2021 report, published on Thursday.

    At the same time, these outflows were mitigated by a 339.5-ton increase in retail gold purchases (36 percent y-o-y), influenced by price-driven «bargain-hunting» and widespread concern over growing inflationary pressures, the report said. Overall overall global gold demand from January to March was on par with the preceding quarter at 815.7 tons.

    We are beginning to see the green shoots of recovery, so there’s a natural pullback,» the World Gold Council’s Andrew Naylor said about the slowing pace of institutional investment in gold. However, he noted the ETF market is still buoyant, and that Asian ETFs have actually seen net inflows because of the stronger retail market participation in the region.

    The Singapore-based head of central banks and public policy noted that there is still a strategic case for investing in gold. «There is still a lot of uncertainty, and there is a likelihood of an inflationary environment with the extension of government balance sheets,» Naylor said.

    As for retail consumers, a more positive economic environment, coupled with a lower gold price, is prompting renewed interest, Naylor said. Bar and coin demand had its best quarter since 2016, growing 36 percent year on year, while jewelry demand enjoyed a post-Covid rebound of 52 percent.

    Naylor said that despite the growing interest in cryptocurrencies and digital assets among investors, he does not see them as competing as they play different roles in portfolios.

    Cryptocurrencies do have a role in the asset allocation mix at the moment, but they’re not gold. They’re a risky asset, and you would probably want to balance that with a risk mitigator such as gold, Naylor said.

    Naylor reiterated the case for investing in gold, whether in a high or low-interest rate environment: its role as a risk diversifier, unique demand profile, and how it helps risk-adjusted returns of a portfolio.