俄罗斯央行，确认出售实物黄金！弥补国家预算所需资金

Core Viewpoint - The Central Bank of Russia has begun selling physical gold reserves to address budgetary needs, following significant foreign currency reserve freezes due to sanctions related to the Ukraine crisis [1] Group 1: Gold Reserves and Sales - The Central Bank of Russia confirmed it has started selling physical gold reserves, although it did not disclose the timing or scale of these sales [1] - Russia holds over 2,300 tons of gold, making it the fifth-largest holder of gold reserves globally [1] Group 2: Impact of Sanctions - Since the escalation of the Ukraine crisis in February 2022, the EU and G7 have frozen nearly half of Russia's foreign currency reserves, totaling approximately €300 billion, with around €200 billion held in European clearing banks [1] - As the world's second-largest gold producer, Russia mines over 300 tons of gold annually, but since 2022, Russian gold bars have been banned from Western markets [1] Group 3: Domestic Gold Demand - To stimulate domestic demand for gold, Russia has eliminated value-added tax on retail gold purchases and is assisting sanctioned mining companies in finding alternative export solutions [1] - A survey indicated that gold has become one of the most favored savings methods among Russians, with consumer purchases of retail gold expected to reach 62.2 tons this year, comparable to national reserves of Spain or Austria [1][2] Group 4: Changing Savings Preferences - Following the imposition of sanctions, the convenience of using Western currencies for savings has decreased, leading to an increased demand for gold since 2022 [2]