实探“水贝金市”：有消费者变现为先

Group 1 - The international gold market experienced a sharp decline after reaching record highs, with spot gold prices dropping over 6% and December futures down 5.7% [1] - Profit-taking is considered a primary reason for the significant drop in gold prices, with market volatility expected to continue due to intertwined factors of risk aversion and interest rate cycles [1] - Gold has reached historical highs nearly 46 times this year, with a recent survey indicating that 43% of fund managers view "going long on gold" as the most crowded trade, surpassing the 39% for "going long on the seven major U.S. stocks" [1] Group 2 - The volatility in gold prices has quickly affected the consumer market, with gold jewelry prices in Shenzhen's Shui Bei market fluctuating significantly, from nearly 1010 yuan per gram to around 958 yuan [2] - Merchants are adopting a cautious approach, operating on a "sell as much as replenish" basis due to the risk of losses if gold prices drop by 5% to 10% [2] - There has been a noticeable increase in gold recycling activities, with a reported 10% rise in recycling volume since gold prices hit historical highs [2] Group 3 - The volatility in gold prices has led to some merchants engaging in gambling-like practices, with three companies in Shenzhen's Shui Bei market being investigated for operating illegal gambling activities related to gold pricing [3] - Several gold pricing trading platforms targeting retail customers have emerged, allowing customers to lock in prices with minimal deposits, which can lead to leveraged trading risks [3] - Due to increased regulatory scrutiny and price volatility, many gold pricing trading platforms have either shut down or moved their operations to other platforms [3]