WORLD gold demand rose 16% in the second quarter year-on-year to a quarterly record high of 810 tons, the World Gold Council said on Wednesday. Gold demand in southeast Asia and South Korea was back to more than 90% of the levels seen before the Asian economic crisis, the council said at a news conference. In the US, total demand rose by 17% in the second quarter to 98,1 tons, with jewelry demand continuing to grow. In Europe, second quarter demand fell to 60,5 tons from 68,1 tons in the same 1998 period.
17