[World Gold Council: Central Bank Gold Purchases Plunge 80% in January, but New Players Signal Larger Trends] Odaily Planet Daily News – The latest data from the World Gold Council shows that in January, central bank gold purchases amounted to less than 20% of the average monthly demand in 2025. However, the market has welcomed new sovereign players, indicating an expanding demand base for gold reserve accumulation. 'Compared to the average monthly purchase volume of 27 tons over the previous 12 months, the momentum of central bank gold purchases has slowed at the beginning of the year,' wrote Marissa Salim, Senior Research Director for the Asia-Pacific region at the World Gold Council (WGC), in her latest monthly report. 'The net purchase volume in January was 5 tons. Gold price fluctuations and holiday factors may have caused some central banks to pause their actions, but the geopolitical tensions, which show little sign of easing, are likely to drive gold purchasing activity through 2026 and beyond.'