In top consumer China, premiums climbed to as high as $55 an ounce over global spot prices this week, traders said, from $20-$38 last week. The policy-measures to support the economy are expected boost physical gold demand, said Peter Fung, head of dealing at Wing Fung Precious Metals. Official data on Thursday also showed that the People's Bank of China increased its gold holdings to 69.62 million fine troy ounces at end-August. Local gold prices were trading around 59,200 rupees per 10 grams on Friday, up nearly 2% in three weeks. In Japan, where domestic gold rates were trading at record levels this week, dealers charged $0.5 premiums.

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Persons: Peter Fung, Bernard Sin, Harshad Ajmera, JJ, Anushree Mukherjee, Swati Verma, Rajendra Jadhav, Maju Samuel Organizations: Chinatown, Metals, People's Bank of China, U.S ., MKS, JJ Gold, Traders, Rajendra, Thomson Locations: China, Japan, India, Greater China, Kolkata, Local, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Bengaluru, Mumbai