Gold purchases from central banks led to last year's surge, with purchases exceeding 1,000 tons for two consecutive years. Gold demand hit record highs in 2023 as persistent geopolitical tensions and weakness in China's economy pushed investors toward the safe haven asset, the World Gold Council said in report. Prices hit an all-time high of $2,100 an ounce in December as central banks as well as retail investors increased purchases of gold — central bank purchases have exceeded 1,000 tons for two consecutive years. "2023 was the second highest year in history of central bank gold buying, within a hair's breadth of the record high in 2022," Fan told CNBC in a Zoom interview. Gold has actually done very well in renminbi terms, and very well compared to other asset classes in China."

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Persons: Shaokai Fan, Fan, China Evergrande, Gold Organizations: Gold, CNBC, People's Bank of Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Israel, People's Bank of China, China, Hong Kong