France completes $15 bn gold repatriation as central banks boost purchases

France moved all 129 tonnes of its gold reserves from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York back to Paris in early 2026, recording a $15 billion gain. The repatriation follows a broader trend of countries bringing sovereign gold home, with Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Hungary and India having done similar moves in recent years.

In the second quarter of 2026, central banks worldwide added 62 tonnes of gold to their holdings, bringing total purchases to 289 tonnes – the highest quarterly increase since late 2024. The surge was led by significant acquisitions from Poland and China, according to the World Gold Council. The heightened demand reflects ongoing geopolitical tensions and inflation concerns, and analysts expect it could support higher gold prices by year‑end.