High gold prices dent UAE jewellery demand in Q1 - when will shoppers come back?
UAE shoppers, jewellers now pin hope on May 10's 'Akshaya Trithiya' for fresh boost
Dubai: High prices have definitely come in the way of UAE gold jewellery purchases in the first three months of 2024, with the asset hitting multiple peaks during the period.
Today, even after last week’s correction, gold is trading at $2,323 an ounce (at 9:40am), down nearly $10. The UAE gold rate is at Dh260.75 for a gram of 22K. (In the last 10 days, its highest was Dh262.25 a gram.)
“Pricing was the biggest factor impacting on jewellery demand, whether in the UAE, China or India,” said Andrew Naylor, the Head of Middle East and Public Policy at World Gold Council, which has issued its quarterly update on trends in the market for gold.
In the UAE, the price was such that it did not even translate into higher demand for gold bars and coins.
That pricing left its dent on UAE demand is clear from the WGC data – Jewellery sales were lower by 10 per cent in the first quarter from a year ago. (In Saudi Arabia, the drop was by 12 per cent.)
Global demand too was muted, making this Q1-24 one of the weakest in recent years. (The corresponding period in 2020 was exceptionally weak, because of the Covid crisis and the start of gold’s push to higher levels.)
Gold demand in the UAE during April’s Eid shopping too came in lower than expected. Now, jewellery retailers are hoping that UAE resident shoppers will stir themselves to engage in some heavier buying on May 10, which is when the Indian festival of ‘Akshaya Trithiya’ is marked. (This has been one of the high-point sales days for gold annually.)
Missed opportunity?
According to World Gold Council data, high prices impacted jewellery, but that so far has not meant UAE shoppers moving in strength into gold coins and bars. Probably, they are waiting for a major correction or even a cooling-off to happen.
“What we have not seen here and in Asia markets is consumers going for heavy profit-taking from their gold holdings,” said Naylor. “Right through these months, they have not gone for that even with gold setting new price highs.
“In this, they were different from their peers in the West, who did some healthy levels of profit-taking.”
Will gold prices swing back to under $2,300?
Briefly, last week, it did seem gold was going to soften to around $2,300 an ounce levels, or even below. That hope lasted for barely 24 hours. Gold's now back to pushing through to $2,340, and the corrections, if any, have gotten tighter, That will not cheer shoppers.
"Gold price trends continue to be bullish over the short and long term," said Vijay Valecha, Chief Investment Officer at Century Financial. "We did see a small correction from the highs of 2,400, but it only seems temporary. Gold might spring back to those levels in a few weeks..."
Will May 10 throw a window of opportunity?
Several dynamics are in play when it comes to gold prices, and none of them seem favourable when it comes to a possible softening. There is the US interest rate situation with no clarity on when the Fed will start dropping rates. There is the geopolitical crisis playing out. And then there is the sustained buying by central banks of more bullion. Amidst all this, shoppers do not get much of a look at lower prices.
Even then, they await a chance to make some more purchases. "While it's challenging to make precise forecasts, early indications suggest that demand could be robust during Akshaya Trithiya, fueled by its cultural significance and the enduring allure of gold as a safe-haven asset," said Anil Dhanak, Managing Director of Kanz jewels. "However, fluctuations in prices leading up to the event may sway consumer behavior..."
While it's challenging to make precise forecasts, early indications suggest that demand could be robust...
In India, elections too
Another market that's seeing muted demand for jewellery these days is India, where the ongoing elections are seen as an added reason to slow things down. "It's no different from past election cycles, with Indian shoppers making a point of spending little to nothing on gold," said Naylor.
This election run will continue until early Uune - so, will India's domestic gold demand spike up even slightly for May 10?
It's essential to keep an eye on market dynamics in the lead-up to the festival for a clearer picture of expectations.
As for shoppers, they can keep doing all that they did during the recent volatility in gold price movements - await a window of opportunity to buy. "If gold prices remain stable or experience a slight dip, we could anticipate robust demand for gold during Akshaya Trithiya as buyers seize the opportunity to invest or adorn with this precious metal," said Ramesh Vora of Bafleh Jewellers. "It's essential to keep an eye on market dynamics in the lead-up to the festival for a clearer picture of expectations."