HOCK LOCK SIEW
·
SUBSCRIBERS

The real shine behind Singapore’s golden ambitions is not in gold’s meteoric price increase

Investors are faring well with listed gold counters hitting fresh highs, but the Republic is also aiming to benefit with the region’s ultimate vault

Jude Chan
Published Thu, Apr 2, 2026 · 03:55 PM
    • Shops in Little India are offering to buy back gold amid the global boom in prices.
    • Shops in Little India are offering to buy back gold amid the global boom in prices. PHOTO: JUDE CHAN, BT

    DeeperDive is a beta AI feature. Refer to full articles for the facts.

    [SINGAPORE] ​Take a walk through Singapore’s Little India this week, and the giant billboards tell a very clear story. Pawnshops and jewellers are aggressively advertising to buy back gold, capitalising on a global boom that has retail investors cashing in their chains and bangles at record prices.

    ​To understand why the aunties are selling, look at the maths.

    Gold has been on a historic, gravity-defying tear. In 2024, it climbed steadily. In 2025, it shattered records, surging past US$4,000 an ounce. Going into 2026, it breached the psychological US$5,000 mark.

    Decoding Asia newsletter: your guide to navigating Asia in a new global order. Sign up here to get Decoding Asia newsletter. Delivered to your inbox. Free.

    Copyright SPH Media. All rights reserved.