International News
US jewellery, watches sales up by 4.4 per cent year-on-year
Sales of watches and jewelry in the US showed further signs of growth in December 2024, up 4.4 per cent year-on-year, according the latest figures from the US Department of Commerce. But there’s been a marked slowdown since the 10 per cent increases of last September and October.
November saw sales up by just 3.0 per cent, revised down from 5.8 per cent based on actual through-the-till transactions rather than estimates. October has been revised up from 9.7 per cent to 10.0 per cent.
The average monthly year-on-year growth for the full year is 5.4 per cent, so December was little below par. Having said that, it was the 15th consecutive month of growth after a long period (the end of 2022 and much of 2023) of falling sales.
International News
WGC Gold Market Commentary-Go With The Flow
September Was Unusual: Despite The Price Decline,Global Gold ETFs Recorded US $10bn (67t) Of Inflows Across Regions. North America Led The Charge, Followed By Europe and Asia.
September review
A surge in US Treasury yields and the US dollar alongside a drop in futures positions helped drive prices lower in September, despite
Yet September was unusual: despite the price decline, global gold ETFs recorded US$10bn (67t) of inflows across regions. North America led the charge, followed by Europe and Asia.
Key Takeaways & Market Drivers
1. September Price Retreat
- Price Movement: Gold dropped 8.5% m/m in September to close at $4,176/oz (USD), experiencing broad declines across all major international currencies.
- Primary Drivers: Macro headwinds drove prices lower, specifically a 53 bps surge in US 10-year Treasury yields (to 5.3%) and a 2% gain in the US Dollar Index (DXY), as captured by the Gold Return Attribution Model (GRAM).
- Derivatives Liquidation: COMEX net managed money positions shrank by $12bn (84t), while spreading positions fell by $22bn (156t), putting heavy downward pressure on spot prices.
2. Divergence: Physical ETFs vs. Derivatives
- Unusual Contrast: While futures/derivatives positions liquidated sharply, physical demand held firm—global gold ETFs saw strong net inflows of $10bn (67t) in September, led by North America, Europe, and Asia.
3. Stellar European & UK Demand in Q3
- Record Demand: UK-listed gold ETFs recorded 54 tonnes of inflows in Q3 (inflows in 12 of 13 weeks), far exceeding model predictions of 18t (a 36t excess).
- Macro Shift: Historical relationships fail to explain the surge. However, since July, excess UK ETF inflows have strongly correlated (r = 0.51) with rising UK term premia.
- Fiscal Concerns: Investors appear increasingly focused on long-term fiscal sustainability (highlighted by the UK Office for Budget Responsibility’s warnings) and persistent inflation risks rather than transient policy events.
Outlook: What to Watch in October
- Fed & Central Bank Meetings: Markets have lowered expectations for further monetary tightening across the Fed, ECB, and Bank of England.
- Key Signal: If bond yields and term premia remain elevated despite dovish rate expectations, it will signal deeper structural concerns regarding fiscal deficits, which should continue supporting strategic gold demand.
WGC Gold Market Commentary-Go With The Flow
You Name It. We Make It.: Aspect Bullion Brings A Personal Touch To Gold and Silver Gifting This Festive Season
CaratLane Celebrates 18 Years Of Trust, Design-Edge, and Precious Stories
-
National News2 hours agoPalmonas and Sanjana Ganesan Present “Two Worlds, One Collection”
-
International News12 minutes agoWGC Gold Market Commentary-Go With The Flow
-
National News1 hour agoCaratLane Celebrates 18 Years Of Trust, Design-Edge, and Precious Stories
-
National News34 minutes agoYou Name It. We Make It.: Aspect Bullion Brings A Personal Touch To Gold and Silver Gifting This Festive Season
JewelBuzz is Asia’s First Digital Jewellery Media & India’s No.1 B2B Jewellery Magazine, published by AM Media House. Since 2016, we’ve been the trusted source for jewellery news, market trends, trade insights, exhibitions, podcasts, and brand stories, connecting jewellers, retailers, and industry professionals worldwide.