The last international gold holders’ hierarchy was disclosed to the large public in mid 2009. At that moment, the United States was on the first place with about eight thousands tons of gold. With a significantly bulky difference (around 4500 tons), the second place was awarded to Germany. Fairly close to the second best (with about 150 tons less), the IMF was considered the third largest gold holder worldwide, with an approximate portfolio of 3,220 tons of bullion.
In mid 2009, The World Gold Council statistics showed that the IMF owned more than 3000 tonnes of the shiny precious metal. In other words, at that moment the Fund was the third largest holder worldwide after the United States and Germany (the former having a huge advance of about five thousand tons, while the latter had about two hundred tons more). By the beginning of Fall in the same year, this international powerful institution surprised the world by its decision to sell part of its gold assets, allegedly for supporting low-income, developing countries.
In about one year (from October 2009 to September 2010), the Fund sold out appreciatively 225 tons of gold on the off-market (only India purchasing an amount that raised to 200 tons). Yet, besides these publicly known off-market transactions, IMF also placed its gold on the open market. Also the Fund’s representatives claim that the complete trade is limited to 400 metric tones of gold, in fact no one can tell what quantities were discharged on the bulk market.
On these lines, it is difficult to say how much the Fund wholesale influenced the price of gold in the last couple of years. When traded off the market to known purchasers, the price tends to rise; yet, when set on the open market (where anyone can buy anonymously) the supply logically increases, while the price leans downwards.
All in all, regardless of IMF transactions and future moves, gold bullion coins and bars of 99,9 purity are the most reliable store of value of our times. Whether in the vaults of the IMF or that of China, this precious metal will continue to shine as powerful as today in the years to come.