Central banks worldwide continue to build reserves as a hedge against economic uncertainty. China's gold holdings climbed to $319.45 billion by the end of December, up from $310.65 billion recorded at the end of November. This represents a notable monthly increase, reflecting ongoing accumulation strategies. Such moves by major economies signal confidence in precious metals as a store of value amid volatile market conditions. These reserve adjustments often influence broader sentiment across commodity and forex markets, and traders closely monitor central bank activities for clues about long-term economic positioning and inflation hedging strategies.