The yuan, gold and the BRICS
In 2024, the price of gold increased significantly, driven by China, which reduced its holdings of U.S. Treasury bonds and expanded its gold reserves. In the same vein, interest rates have fallen globally, which also boosts the price of gold. On the other hand, demand for the yuan as an exchange currency in intra-Asian trade has grown, especially in transactions between the Red Dragon and its trading partners or with countries sanctioned by the U.S., such as Russia, which reduces the use of the dollar. On the other hand, demand for the yuan has increased for international trade as a result of Washington's sanctions against 26 countries, showing a loss of the dollar as a medium of exchange. This article will analyse the rise in the price of gold during 2024, driven by the strategies implemented by the People's Bank of China (BPdeC), such as the issuance of dollar bonds and whether they consolidate the yuan as a reserve currency and turn the country into a global financial power.