Ernest HoffmanErnest Hoffman is a Crypto and Market Reporter for Kitco News. He has over 15 years of experience as a writer, editor, broadcaster and producer for media, educational and cultural organizations. Ernest began working in market news in 2007, establishing the broadcast division of CEP News in Montreal, Canada, where he developed the fastest web-based audio news service in the world and produced economic news videos in partnership with MSN and the TMX. He has a Bachelor's degree Specialization in ...

Core Viewpoint - The mining industry, particularly gold, is experiencing significant growth, with Zijin Mining achieving substantial revenue and profit increases due to rising international gold prices and strategic acquisitions [2][3]. Financial Performance - In the first three quarters of 2025, Zijin Mining reported operating revenue of 254.2 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 10.33%, and a net profit of 45.701 billion yuan, up 53.99% year-on-year [2]. - The company's non-recurring net profit reached 34.127 billion yuan, reflecting a growth of 43.71% compared to the previous year [2]. Gold Production and Market Dynamics - Zijin Mining's gold production for January to September 2025 was 65 tons, marking a 20% increase year-on-year, with the third quarter alone contributing 24 tons, a 7% increase from the previous quarter [3]. - The rise in gold production is attributed to new acquisitions and increased processing at existing mines, including the Ghana Akim Gold Mine and the Xinjiang Sava Yalton Gold Mine [3]. Listing and Strategic Focus - Zijin Gold International, a subsidiary of Zijin Mining, successfully listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in September 2025, focusing on global gold asset operations [2][3]. Copper Production Challenges - Copper production growth has slowed due to a flooding incident at the Kamoa-Kakula mine, with Zijin Mining's copper output for the first three quarters of 2025 at 830,000 tons, a 5% increase year-on-year, but a 6% decrease quarter-on-quarter [6][7]. - The flooding incident has led to a downward revision of the mine's production expectations for 2025 [7]. Cost Pressures - The unit sales costs for major products, including gold and copper, have increased, with gold ingot costs rising by 15.2% and copper concentrate costs by 14.37% year-on-year [9][10]. - The increase in costs is attributed to declining ore grades, increased transportation distances, and higher transitional costs from newly acquired mines [9]. Market Outlook - The global demand for copper is expected to rise significantly due to the growth of electric vehicles and clean energy sectors, with a projected total demand exceeding 35 million tons within the next 20 years [6]. - Zijin Mining's lithium carbonate production is also progressing, with 11,000 tons produced in the first three quarters of 2025 [8].

Core Viewpoint - The mining industry, particularly gold, is experiencing significant growth, with Zijin Mining achieving substantial revenue and profit increases due to rising international gold prices and strategic acquisitions [2][3][4]. Financial Performance - In the first three quarters of 2025, Zijin Mining reported operating revenue of 254.2 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 10.33%, and a net profit of 45.701 billion yuan, up 53.99% year-on-year [2][3]. - The company's gold production reached 65 tons, a 20% increase compared to the previous year, with third-quarter production of 24 tons, reflecting a 7% quarter-on-quarter growth [3][4]. Market Trends - The global gold market has shown an upward trend, with London spot gold prices rising from $3,000 per ounce at the beginning of the year to a peak of $4,381, maintaining a year-to-date increase of over 33% [3][4]. - Central banks worldwide are increasing their gold reserves, with China's gold reserves needing to increase by at least 5,500 tons to reach the global average of approximately 30% of foreign reserves [4]. Strategic Acquisitions - Zijin Mining's acquisition of the Raygorodok gold mine in Kazakhstan for $1.2 billion is expected to enhance its gold production capacity significantly, with an average annual output of approximately 5.5 tons [4]. - Zijin Gold International, a subsidiary focused on overseas gold assets, was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, aiming to optimize its portfolio of high-potential gold mines [3][4]. Copper Production Challenges - Copper production growth has slowed due to a flooding incident at the Kamoa-Kakula copper mine, which is expected to impact Zijin Mining's overall copper output [5][6]. - The company's copper production for the first three quarters of 2025 was 830,000 tons, a 5% increase year-on-year, but the third-quarter output saw a 6% decline quarter-on-quarter [5][6]. Cost Pressures - The unit sales costs for major products, including gold and copper, have risen, with gold ingot costs increasing by 15.2% and copper concentrate costs by 14.37% compared to the previous year [8][9]. - The increase in costs is attributed to declining ore grades, increased transportation distances, and higher stripping ratios in open-pit mines, alongside transitional costs from newly acquired companies [9].

Core Insights - The gold market in November 2025 is characterized by "high-level consolidation and tug-of-war between bulls and bears," with international gold prices testing the $4000 per ounce mark repeatedly [1] - The recent tax policy changes and brand premium differentiation have led to a three-tier pricing system in the domestic market, impacting the wholesale market significantly [4] Group 1: Market Dynamics - The new tax policy exempts standard gold traded through the Shanghai Gold Exchange and futures exchanges from VAT, while off-market transactions incur a 13% VAT, affecting the Shenzhen Shui Bei wholesale market [4] - The price gap between Shui Bei market gold and brand retail prices has narrowed to approximately 90 yuan per gram due to increased costs for some merchants [4] - Major banks like ICBC and CCB have paused gold accumulation services, raising concerns about liquidity tightening, although ICBC quickly resumed operations, indicating a focus on "regulating transactions" rather than "suppressing the market" [4] Group 2: Investment Sentiment - Despite ongoing uncertainties in the Middle East, market pricing of "extreme risks" has become more rational, with gold ETF holdings decreasing for four consecutive weeks, equivalent to a reduction of 69 tons of physical gold [4] - Speculative long positions have dropped to a three-month low, and the RSI indicator has decreased from 82 to 54, indicating a release of short-term overbought pressure [4] Group 3: Central Bank Support - Central bank gold purchases have become a long-term support factor, with global central banks acquiring 220 tons in Q3 2025, bringing the total for the year to 634 tons, nearing record levels from 2024 [4] - This "structural demand" effectively smooths out short-term volatility in the gold market [4] Group 4: Price Levels and Future Outlook - In the short term, gold prices need to test the support level of $3800 per ounce; a drop below this level could trigger programmatic selling [4] - The market is currently in a phase of "macro support versus technical pressure," with key variables to watch: 1. Federal Reserve policy: December rate cut probabilities have decreased by 25 basis points, but forward rate futures are pricing in a cumulative 50 basis point cut in 2025 [4] 2. Geopolitical risks: An escalation in the Middle East could reignite safe-haven demand [4] 3. Inflation persistence: The U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio has reached 123%, and if secondary inflation expectations rise, gold's inflation-hedging properties will become more pronounced [4]

Group 1 - The latest report from the World Gold Council (WGC) indicates a significant increase in U.S. gold demand, which rose by 58% year-on-year to 186 tons, driven by record inflows into gold ETFs [2] - In the third quarter, U.S. listed funds added 137 tons of gold, accounting for 62% of global inflows, highlighting the growing importance of gold as a safe-haven asset for investors [2] - The trading volume of gold on the COMEX and U.S. ETFs surged to a record daily high of $208 billion, reflecting heightened investor interest in the gold market [2] Group 2 - Central banks globally purchased a net total of 39 tons of gold in September, marking the highest monthly level of the year, with Brazil leading at 15 tons [2] - The total net purchases of gold by central banks for the year have reached 200 tons, indicating an increasing emphasis on gold as a strategic reserve asset [2] - The recent fluctuations in gold prices, including a peak at $4019, suggest a potential for volatility in the market, with key resistance levels identified [3]

Group 1 - The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) has resumed accepting applications for the "Ruyi Gold Accumulation" business, including account openings, active accumulation, new fixed accumulation plans, and physical gold withdrawals [1][2] - The resumption of these services comes after a previous announcement that, effective November 3, 2025, ICBC would suspend these services due to macroeconomic policy impacts and risk management requirements [1][2] - Customers with existing fixed accumulation plans will not be affected in terms of execution, redemption, or account closure [2] Group 2 - Similarly, China Construction Bank (CCB) announced that it will suspend applications for its "Easy Storage Gold" business, including real-time purchases, new investment purchases, and physical gold exchanges, starting from November 3, 2025 [3] - Existing customers of CCB will still be able to execute their investment plans, redeem, and close accounts without any impact [3] - Both banks have advised customers to stay informed about the recovery of these services through future announcements [5]

Market Performance - The gold market in 2025 has shown remarkable performance, with spot gold prices rising from approximately $2,624 per ounce at the beginning of the year to $4,381 per ounce, marking a significant increase of 66.96%, the strongest annual performance since 1979 [1] - However, by late October, gold prices experienced a notable correction, dropping to $4,080.87 per ounce, a decline of over 6%, and closing at $4,111.56 per ounce on October 24 [1] Investment Options - Investors are faced with the decision of whether to invest in physical gold or financial gold products, each having distinct characteristics [3] Liquidity - Physical gold has relatively weak liquidity, making it cumbersome to liquidate in urgent financial situations, while financial products like gold ETFs can be traded easily during market hours, akin to stocks [4][5] Holding Costs - The premium for bank gold bars typically ranges from 5% to 10%, while branded gold jewelry can have premiums as high as 30% to 80%. In contrast, the holding costs for gold ETFs are significantly lower, generally at a fraction of a percent [6][7] Hedging Effectiveness - Physical gold offers strong hedging capabilities during extreme economic crises, especially in the context of heightened geopolitical risks in 2025, while financial products may perform well under normal market conditions but have limitations during systemic risks [8][9] Tax Treatment - Purchasing physical gold includes a 13% value-added tax, with personal sales exempt from income tax, although frequent trading may be classified as business activity and incur taxes. Financial products like gold ETFs require a stamp duty of 0.1% on trades, with personal capital gains currently exempt from income tax [10][11] Inheritance Advantages - Physical gold is often viewed as a "family heirloom," carrying emotional and cultural significance, whereas the transfer of financial products involves more complex account inheritance processes [12][13] Conclusion - There is no absolute superiority between physical gold and financial gold products; the choice depends on individual needs. For those prioritizing extreme risk hedging or sentimental value, physical gold may be more suitable, while those valuing liquidity, holding costs, and trading convenience might prefer gold ETFs [13]

Group 1 - The financial market in October has been volatile, with gold prices experiencing a dramatic drop of over 6% in a single day, followed by Wall Street's bullish outlook, raising gold price targets to $5,055 per ounce by the end of 2026 [1] - The high interest rate policy of the Federal Reserve is eroding the economic foundation of the U.S., leading to increased personal debt, strained corporate finances, and high government deficits, pushing investors towards gold as a liquid asset during market panic [3][5] - The traditional method of using gold as a stabilizer for the dollar is losing effectiveness, as doubts about the actual gold reserves in Fort Knox have emerged, making it difficult for the U.S. government to manipulate gold prices as before [5][7] Group 2 - Wall Street's attitude towards gold has shifted dramatically, with major financial institutions that were once bearish on gold now expressing strong bullish sentiments, indicating a fear of the declining dollar hegemony [7][8] - The trend of "de-dollarization" is gaining momentum globally, with the dollar's share in global foreign exchange reserves dropping to 56.32% by Q2 2025, a decline of over 6 percentage points since 2018, as countries seek to diversify their assets [10] - The Federal Reserve's attempts to address liquidity crises through interest rate cuts have led to significant inflows into gold ETFs, with $33 billion entering the gold market in just eight weeks, equivalent to 268 tons of gold, creating a cycle of declining confidence in the dollar and rising gold prices [12][14] Group 3 - The fluctuations in the gold market reflect the struggles of dollar hegemony, with differing predictions about future gold prices highlighting contrasting views on the dollar's trajectory [14][16] - The accumulation of gold by Wall Street firms, while potentially safeguarding their assets, may not be sufficient to reverse the decline of the dollar system, as the majority of gold is held privately and not in circulation [14][16] - The increasing gold inventories in New York signal a weakening of the dollar's status as the world's reserve currency, with the Fed's rate cuts inadvertently benefiting gold as a competitor [16]

Core Viewpoint - Negotiations between the U.S. and multiple trade partners have made progress, boosting the attractiveness of risk assets like the stock market, while the safe-haven demand for gold continues to decline [1] Group 1: Market Impact - The international gold price experienced a significant drop on Monday, falling below the $4000 per ounce mark during trading [1] - As of the close, the December gold futures price on the New York Commodity Exchange settled at $4019.7 per ounce, reflecting a decline of 2.85% [1]

Core Points - Pinduoduo (PDD.US) has sparked widespread discussion by distributing special anniversary gifts to employees, celebrating its tenth anniversary with gold products based on tenure [1] - Employees with different lengths of service received varying specifications of gold items, with those completing ten years receiving a 100-gram "Golden Rooster" ornament, which has become a focal point of public attention [1] Summary by Categories Employee Gifts - The distribution of anniversary gifts is directly related to the length of service: employees with three years of service received approximately 4 grams of gold rings, those with five years received 11 grams, and ten-year employees received a 100-gram "Golden Rooster" craft [3] - Employees expressed appreciation for the timing of the gold gifts, noting the recent rise in gold prices [3] Market Context - The current market for gold is experiencing significant volatility, with the Shanghai Gold Exchange reporting a price of 942 yuan per gram, valuing the 100-gram "Golden Rooster" at nearly 94,000 yuan [3] - The international gold market has shown a strong upward trend this year, with London spot gold prices surpassing $3,000 and $4,000, indicating a clear bull market [3] - However, on October 21, gold prices faced a sharp decline, with a single-day drop exceeding 6%, marking the largest drop since April 2013 [3] - As of the latest report, the international gold price stands at $4,084.92 per ounce, showing a slight decrease of 0.31% [3]