Russia's 10-year gold itch sends its hoard to Putin-era peak

Moscow

VLADIMIR Putin is doing his part to keep the upswing in gold alive.

Since the Russian president went on a geopolitical offensive in Ukraine in 2014, the haven asset had its first annual gain in four years in 2016 and is on track for another in 2017. A beneficiary of economic and political perils from North Korea to Brexit, it's among the top-performing commodities this year.