Under the influence of central banks: Year-end expectation from the World Gold Council

Central banks are treating the recent gold price decline as a buying opportunity, with China adding 26 tons in October to lift its reserves to 2,435 tons and Poland reaching its 700-ton target. Global central bank gold purchases rose 42% year-on-year in the third quarter, according to the World Gold Council. The sustained official-sector demand matters because it provides a structural floor for prices even as broader market sentiment weakens. Investors will watch whether China and other emerging-market central banks keep accumulating at this pace through year-end, and whether the World Gold Council's year-end outlook signals further official buying.