Central banks bought gold at fastest quarterly pace since late 2024

The World Gold Council estimates central bank gold purchases rose 42% from a year earlier to 321 tons in the third quarter, lifting 2026 purchases through September to 675 tons. It now expects full-year buying to at least match 2025’s 848 tons. Slower bar and coin buying prompted it to cut its forecast for growth in gold investment demand from 400 to 200 metric tons.