Gold is the oldest and the most efficient measure of capital and wealth. Other precious metals were used for the same purposes besides gold. However, generations were changing, but gold has always been a common equivalent as well as a means of payment and a commodity at the same time. The gold standard system exerted a great influence on the world economic development in the 19th – 20th centuries. National borders receded in the face of gold, and it served as the main world currency until the 70’s of the 20th century. Due to this, operations with precious metals were under strict control. Generally, the transactions were conducted at the level of the states' monetary authorities and the international financial organizations.
However, as a result of contradictions within the system, qualitative changes took place, and currency rates became floating. Consequently, the gold's role was changed, on the legal basis it was excluded from the world currency turnover. Liberalization of gold deals began; the private individuals’ rights for physical possession of metals were expanded. The precious metals market altered, therefore not only the market structure, but also its members and the line of operations changed. Nowadays, gold is no longer a payment facility; however it has not left the system of economic relations. Today the world gold market is a complex of domestic and international markets, which are almost independent from the governments’ control. All this guarantees 24-hour global trading both precious metals and their derivatives.
The structure of demand on the world gold market can be nominally divided into 3 components: hoarding at all levels, industrial and domestic consumption and speculative operations. Supply consists of precious metals, private and public reserves, processions of auriferous ores and illegal traffic.
The main sources of supply are gold producers; the main buyers are those who use it for industrial purposes. Both appear on the market irregularly due to different factors. However, we will dwell upon surges and recessions on the market of precious metals later.
Gold markets
International gold markets are located in such cities as Zurich, Hong-Kong, London, New York and Dubai. Strict requirements are imposed on rather few market participants. They are usually big banks and specialized companies, which have good reputation and credit standing. Spectrum of possible transactions on the international market is quite wide. There are no taxes or customs control. Large operations with precious metals are conducted 24 hours a day, which is provided by an extensive clients' network related to the gold market. The deals are not rigidly regulated: the rules are made by market participants themselves.
Domestic gold markets are the markets of one or several countries focused on local investors mainly. They are divided into open and regulated markets. Open markets are nearly all markets in Europe, for example, in Milan, Paris, Amsterdam and Frankfurt-on-Main. The regulated markets are located in the Third World countries. On domestic markets, the operations are mostly made with small bars and coins with national currencies being the means of payment.
Black markets can be found in some countries of the Asian region. Their emergence is stemming from the total governmental control of the operations with gold. Black markets co-exist with closed ones. A closed market is a form of a domestic market organized radically, where import and export of gold are banned; moreover, because of taxes’ rates, trading precious metals is not really profitable by the reason of the domestic prices exceeding the world gold prices.
Participants of gold markets
Gold miners
Primary gold is mostly provided by gold producers. They can be either small enterprises or big corporations. It is quite logical that the company’s influence on the market depends on the quantity of gold supplied by it. Consequently, other market participants pay special attention to the behaviour of the major gold producers.
Industry
Manufacturing and jewellery enterprises, as well as companies which deal with refining (gold clearing).
Exchanges
In some countries there are special sections on the largest exchanges which deal with precious metals trading and gold in particular.
Investors
Diverse interests of investors lead to various types of investments in gold-related assets. The most popular assets for gold market investors are CFDs.
Banking sector
National banks are the hugest operators on the gold market, they make rules. It should be mentioned, that active sales of reserve gold are not their main goal, but they demonstrate interest in active utilization of the reserves. The central banks have great influence on the market conditions, which became especially noticeable in the 1990-ies of the 20th century.
Intermediaries and dealers
Professional intermediaries and dealers on the gold market are specialized companies and commercial banks. They have one of the leading functions, as almost all gold goes to their hands at first.
Bullion market
The largest volume of operations with pure gold is carried out in London and Zurich. Firstly, the major part of all gold trading operations were conducted in London, which was facilitated by the deliveries of the metal from the British Commonwealth countries, mainly from the Republic of South Africa. They were attracted by the skillful organization of precious metals trading. Gold was transported from London to Continental Europe and then forwarded to the Far East.
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