Interesting reading "Central-bank gold purchases have been a major support for gold over the past 12 years. But they are losing their enthusiasm for the precious metal. Central banks globally became net buyers of gold in 2010 to the tune of 77 tonnes, compared with net sales of 34 tonnes and 235 tonnes in 2009 and 2008 respectively, after a 20-year period of significant sales, characterised famously by Britain's 395-tonne disposal between 1999 and 2002, when prices stood around their lowest level for 20 years. Gold purchases rose to a 48-year high of 534.6 tonnes in 2012, but this year buying should decline to 400 tonnes."