Hong Kong gold imports fall 18% in July as mainland giants rush to build vaults

Gold flows into Hong Kong eased to about 107 tonnes in July despite mainland corporate buyers pouring capital into new bullion vaults, as they bet on the city’s strategic ambition to establish itself as Asia’s premier hub for the precious metal. The city’s non-monetary gold imports fell about 18 per cent from June, a month that registered a decade-long high as banks built up inventory ahead of the trial launch of the city’s gold clearing and settlement system that opened on July 7. The value…