The World Gold Council, the market development organisation for the gold industry, today convened a roundtable debate to discuss how to modernise the London Gold Fix.
The meeting was attended by 34 delegates representing all parts of the industry including; central banks, bullion banks, refiners, ETFs and other gold investment product sponsors, exchanges and industry bodies.
Hosted by the World Gold Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Aram Shishmanian, delegates discussed the requirements and desired characteristics for a reformed benchmark, along with the pros and cons of any alternative price-setting mechanism.
The key points emerging in the discussion were as follows:
- The need for a single, trusted, benchmark reference price is in the interests of the millions of people involved in the gold market around the world
- The imperative for continuity of price discovery to avoid market disruption
- The importance of expanding involvement in the process to reflect the full range of market participants
- The importance of a local London price, which would reflect both the deep pool of liquidity available in London, as well as London’s historic and current position as the primary trading centre for gold
- Any solution will need to be settled locally and physically
- The need for a transparent benchmark which mitigates any potential reputational risk for those administering the benchmark
- The requirement to separate market making from benchmark administration, and to meet all the other IOSCO principles including independent oversight
Natalie Dempster, Managing Director, Central Banks and Public Policy said: “We are at the start of a process that will lead to a reformed and modernised gold benchmark which attracts a broader range of market participants.
There was strong support for the World Gold Council’s key principles for reform. We believe it should be based on executed trades and a tradable price, it should have highly transparent input data, should be calculated from a deep and liquid market, and represent a physically-deliverable price.”
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Melissa McVeigh
World Gold Council
T +44 20 7826 4701
E [email protected]
Felicity Sincock
Edelman
T +44 20 3047 2442
E [email protected]
World Gold Council
The World Gold Council is the market development organisation for the gold industry. Working within the investment, jewellery and technology sectors, as well as engaging in government affairs, our purpose is to provide industry leadership, whilst stimulating and sustaining demand for gold.
We develop gold-backed solutions, services and markets, based on true market insight. As a result, we create structural shifts in demand for gold across key market sectors.
We provide insights into the international gold markets, helping people to better understand the wealth preservation qualities of gold and its role in meeting the social and environmental needs of society.
Based in the UK, with operations in India, the Far East, Europe and the US, the World Gold Council is an association whose members include the world's leading and most forward thinking gold mining companies.
