Chinanews.com, Guangzhou, August 17 (Reporter Tang Guijiang) The reporter learned from ICBC Guangdong Branch on the 17th that with the international gold price hitting record highs, the bank’s gold-related transactions soared. From January to July 2020, ICBC Guangdong branch account gold and account silver transaction volume increased by 84% and 228% year-on-year; the volume of other physical gold, gold accumulation and gold repurchase business increased by 20-140% compared with the previous year.
On August 5, 2020, the international gold price rose to a record high of US$2042 per ounce, breaking the record of US$1922 per ounce set in the gold bull market in 2011. Gold rose by up to 35% throughout the year, and silver rose even more, with a maximum of more than 60%. Even though the price of gold and silver has seen a major correction recently, many investors still have a large income throughout the year, and the trading volume of precious metals in banks has also achieved relatively high growth.
In recent years, with the steady growth of the national income of urban and rural residents and the rapid development of investment trading markets, residents' investment methods have become increasingly diversified, and more and more citizens have also participated in the ranks of gold and other precious metals investment. Taking the Guangdong branch of ICBC as an example, as of the end of July 2020, the bank’s precious metals business has served 4.15 million customers, an increase of more than 50% over three years ago; the average annual transaction volume of precious metals in the past three years has exceeded 200 billion yuan, which is the province’s One of the largest precious metal investment and management banks.
According to the relevant person in charge of ICBC Guangdong Branch, there are currently various types of precious metals businesses in the market. For example, ICBC’s precious metals business includes brand precious metals, account precious metals, gold accumulation, agency gold exchange trading business, gold repurchase, gold lease pledge, etc. Moreover, the purchase channels are diversified and the operation is simple, which can effectively meet the diverse and personalized needs of individuals for investment, financial management, gifts, and collections of corporate customers.
"During the special period of epidemic prevention and control this year, our bank has further leveraged the advantages of flexible, convenient and easy-to-obtain precious metals online services, and vigorously guided customers to purchase and invest through online channels such as mobile banking, online banking, and e-commerce e-commerce platforms. Reduce the gathering of people out, prevent the risk of cross-infection, and actively contribute to the prevention and control of the epidemic." said the person in charge. Data shows that from January to July 2020, ICBC Guangdong Branch’s precious metals trading volume reached 46,000 tons, a year-on-year increase of 241%; of which online channel transaction volume accounted for 99.6%, a year-on-year increase of 240%, and offline channel transaction volume increased by 20%. %.
It is reported that there are many platforms for investing in precious metals in the market, with many types of products, and a large number of participants. However, some precious metals businesses require strong professional knowledge and risk management capabilities. If investors have insufficient experience, insufficient understanding of market risks, and lack of operational trading capabilities Or choose an informal platform for investment, which is prone to damage to legal rights or large investment losses.
In response to this, ICBC Guangdong Branch is actively promoting the popularization of gold investment and the balanced allocation of customer assets. At the same time, it pays special attention to risk education. It carries out education activities for precious metals investors on a regular basis, continuously improves investors’ professional knowledge and risk prevention awareness, and effectively protects customers. Legal rights. Statistics show that ICBC Guangdong Branch holds an average of more than 500 investor education activities every year, with more than 200,000 educated investors.
At the same time, ICBC Guangdong Branch pays special attention to the construction of precious metals business team, and continuously improves the professional ability and service level of customer managers by holding various precious metal analyst competitions and trainings. At present, the bank has about 400 license holders for precious metals analysts, and the professional ability to serve customers continues to improve. (Finish)