Precious metals dealers search for better benchmarks

Amid pressure from regulators, a new system for determining benchmark silver prices will be put in place from mid-August, while reforms are also under discussion in the gold market. Industry observers say increasing participation will be crucial to restoring confidence in the benchmarks, writes Gillian Carr

The daily silver and gold fixings represent two of the oldest commodity benchmarks in the world, dating back to 1897 and 1919, respectively. But now, their long lives appear to be coming to an end. The silver fix is to be held for the last time in mid-August, while industry discussions were underway aimed at ‘modernising' the gold fix as Energy Risk went to press. In both cases, the developments will bring significant changes to the way benchmark prices are set for precious metals.

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