All Time Record Gold Transactions Reported By LBMA

The precious metals have been weak again in May with gold falling 4.4% despite this weeks’ recovery. Silver is down 7% and platinum by 2.6%. Palladium has recovered from recent weakness and those who accumulated on weakness are set for the best month since November after it surged 6.6% in May.

Weakness in gold and silver is leading to robust demand internationally as store of value buyers accumulate gold and silver on this dip. This is particularly the case in Asia where premiums remain robust and supply demand imbalances remain.

The persistent strong demand of this week began on the price falls in April. This demand is clearly seen in the London gold and silver trading data released by the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) yesterday.

London gold trading jumped to a 20 month high in April and silver volumes surged 25% after the price falls led to an increase in physical buying, the LBMA said in a report.

Trading in gold averaged 24.1 million ounces a day in the London market, the most for any month since gold reached record nominal highs in August 2011, the LBMA said in a statement yesterday as reported by Bloomberg.

The 24.1 million ounces was a 10% increase on March when 21.8 million ounces a day were traded.

Silver volume surged nearly 25% to 165.2 million ounces a day, up from 132.5 million ounces in March.

There were 5,395 gold transactions on average per day, the highest on record, while silver transfers at 1,007 a day were the second-highest ever, according to the report.

Gold Spot $/oz, 60 days, 30 minutes – (Bloomberg)

Gold fell 14% in London in the two trading sessions ended April 15, the biggest drop in more than 30 years, on ‘speculation’ that Cyprus or other European countries would sell holdings in the precious metal, the LBMA said.

The price has rebounded as much as 13% through early May as demand increased for gold coins and jewelry.

Gold Spot $/oz, Daily, 3 Year – (Bloomberg)

“April was characterized by continued offloading of both metals by ETF funds,” the LBMA said. “But this was more than offset by strong physical demand, particularly from India,” the world’s biggest consumer.

The value of gold transferred in April increased about 3% from the previous month to a daily average of $35.8 billion, the LBMA said. Silver values climbed about 9% to $4.17 billion a day.

The South African rand collapsed 7.7% against gold this week. In the same way that Japanese people preserved their wealth through gold ownership this week and in recent months (stock falls and currency devaluation), gold has protected South African people from currency devaluation in recent years and again this week. More importantly, it will do so in the coming years.

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