France Pulls Gold From US, Nets Billions in Profit Amid Rising Prices
France’s central bank has successfully divested its final gold reserves held at the United States Federal Reserve, replacing them with higher-quality bullion in Paris. This strategic move, undertaken between July 2025 and January 2026, resulted in a substantial capital gain of €12.8 billion for the Banque de France. The decision to sell older, non-standard gold and purchase new bars meeting modern international standards on the European market was driven by market accessibility rather than political considerations. This upgrade solidifies France’s position with its entire gold reserve, approximately 2,437 tonnes, now held domestically.
John Q. Hosedrinker