Central Banks Buy 321 Tonnes Of Gold In Q3 2026; Purchases Rise 6% In First 9 Months - Times Now

Central bank gold purchases reached 321 tonnes in the third quarter of 2026, according to Times Now, with buying over the first nine months of the year running 6% higher than the same period a year earlier. The figures point to continued official-sector demand for the metal even as prices remain elevated.

Official-sector buying matters because central banks typically hold gold as a reserve asset rather than trading it actively. Their purchases can therefore absorb supply and provide a steadier source of demand than jewellery or short-term investment flows, which tend to respond more sharply to price swings and economic sentiment.

For market participants, the key question is whether this pace persists into the fourth quarter and 2027. Sustained buying would reinforce gold's role as a reserve diversifier, while a slowdown could shift attention back to other demand drivers. Investors may also watch for fuller breakdowns of which countries are buying, since concentration among a few central banks can make the trend less durable than the headline figure suggests.