华尔街见闻·2026-01-09 09:43Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the evolving landscape of gold investment in 2026, highlighting banks' strategies to discourage retail investors from traditional gold accumulation products while promoting structured deposits linked to gold as an alternative investment option [1][4]. Group 1: Changes in Banking Products - Industrial and commercial banks are tightening access to gold accumulation products, officially categorizing them as R3 (balanced) risk level, which excludes conservative investors who previously viewed these products as safe savings options [1][2]. - Some banks, such as Ningbo Bank and Citic Bank, have already implemented restrictions on gold accumulation products for conservative and stable investors, limiting access to those with a higher risk tolerance [2]. Group 2: Market Dynamics and Bank Strategies - The gold market is experiencing significant volatility, with daily price drops exceeding 3% occurring multiple times in the past year, prompting banks to reassess their risk exposure to low-risk clients [3]. - Banks are shifting focus to structured deposits linked to gold, which provide a stable funding source while allowing them to manage risk more effectively. These products are seen as a way to attract funds from clients who are now excluded from traditional gold accumulation options [5][6]. Group 3: Product Offerings and Investor Segmentation - Various banks are launching structured deposits linked to gold, with differing terms and returns, such as DBS Bank's 12-month product with annual returns of 1.5% and 4%, and HSBC's product linked to mining companies with a 4.5% annual return [5][6]. - The restructuring of gold investment offerings indicates a clear segmentation strategy: aggressive investors are still offered direct gold products, while conservative investors are guided towards safer structured deposits [7][8].