China’s gold consumption in the first quarter of 2024 climbed by 5.94% from a year earlier on soaring safe-haven demand, the country’s Gold Association said on Friday. Bullion consumption in the world’s largest consumer totalled 308.905 metric tons in the first three months of the year. Purchase of gold bars and coins jumped by 26.77% in the January-March period to 106.323 tons, or 34% of the total. However, gold jewellery consumption fell 3% to 183.922 tons, or 59.5% of the total, as some consumers preferred to take a watchful stance amid rapidly rising bullion prices. Soaring gold prices heightened operational ... (full story)