Zhong Guo Ji Jin Bao·2026-01-06 10:35Group 1 - The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) announced an increase in the risk tolerance level for personal customers to C3-Balanced and above for its accumulation gold business starting January 12, 2026, making it the first major state-owned bank to raise the entry threshold this year [2][4] - Customers must complete a risk assessment questionnaire through ICBC's channels and obtain a C3-Balanced rating or higher to engage in new accumulation gold business, while existing customers with valid assessments are exempt from retesting [4][5] - Other banks, such as CITIC Bank and Zhongyuan Bank, have also raised their risk tolerance levels for accumulation gold business, indicating a trend among financial institutions to enhance investor protection amid market volatility [10][11] Group 2 - The gold market has shown signs of recovery, with international gold prices rising above $4,400 per ounce as of January 5, 2026, following a brief adjustment at the end of the previous year [10] - Analysts predict continued support for rising gold prices, with Goldman Sachs forecasting a price increase to $4,900 per ounce by December 2026, and UBS projecting a potential rise to $5,000 per ounce by September 2026, with higher risk scenarios suggesting prices could reach $5,400 per ounce [13]