The World Gold Council (WGC) now expects gold investment demand to grow by about 200 tonnes in 2026, half its earlier 400-tonne forecast, while raising its outlook for central-bank buying. The revisions reflect softer retail demand and stronger official purchases, according to BeInCrypto. Central banks added 321 tonnes in Q3, up 42% year on year, lifting year-to-date purchases to 675 tonnes; the WGC expects full-year buying to at least match 2025. Global bar-and-coin demand fell 19% to 268 tonnes in Q3, while gold ETFs drew a record $31 billion. Gold traded at $3,937.98 on Wednesday, down 4.9% from a month earlier.