China’s shoppers and investors lost their appetite for gold this year -- and there’s little expectation of any major improvement in 2020 as slowing growth and higher prices crimp consumer spending. Jewelry consumption is forecast to drop 4% to about 660 tons this year, according to forecasts from Metals Focus Ltd., while a decline of more than 20% to around 240 tons is seen for investment demand. Slowing growth and concerns over the trade war have hit consumer sentiment and a rally in prices is keeping some investors away, said Nikos Kavalis, a director at the London-based research firm. He expects demand to ... (full story)