China plans to launch a yuan-denominated gold fix this year to be set through trading on an exchange, sources familiar with the matter said, as the world's second-biggest bullion consumer seeks to gain more say over the pricing of the precious metal.
The Chinese benchmark would be derived from a new 1kg contract to be launched on the state-run Shanghai Gold Exchange, a senior source directly involved in the process told Reuters.
China, also the top producer of gold, feels its market weight should entitle it to be a price-setter for bullion and it is asserting itself at a time when the established benchmark, the century-old London fix, is under scrutiny because of alleged price-manipulation.
If the Chinese fix takes off, it could add to the pressure on the London benchmark, which is used worldwide by producers, refiners and central banks to price holdings and contracts, although the two could exist side-by-side.
"We need a renminbi benchmark for Chinese producers and foreign suppliers to the market," said the source. "This renminbi gold benchmark can be complementary to the US dollar gold-fixing in London."
