Factors affecting the disparity of Vietnamese gold prices and worldwide gold prices

Abstract

Gold is a precious metal which is highly appreciated because of its prominent role in the world of investments, savings, and consumption. Although gold is no longer used as a primary form of currency in some countries, it continues to have a strong influence on the value of the currencies of those countries. Compared to all the other precious metals used for investment and trade, throughout history gold has always been preferred. The value of gold is a factor mentioned in the commodities and futures market. Vietnam does not produce/mine enough gold to meet its domestic requirements. As the country has to import over sixty percent of its gold, Vietnam's gold price is mostly influenced by the world price movements, in turn increasing or decreasing domestically. Therefore, understanding and addressing the factors resulting in gold price disparities is essential in policy adjustments to stabilize the price of gold and prevent speculation, which may cause economic destabilization as well as a loss of competitiveness in Vietnamese market for gold and other precious metals. The study includes monthly data collected between January 2006 and December 2015. Exchange rates, import tax, and seasonal factor data are included in the model as independent variables. According to the empirical findings, the foreign exchange rate had a negative impact on the disparity between Vietnamese gold price and the world price. The import tax has a positive effect on the discrepancies among gold prices, while the seasonal factor variable was not statistically significant at 5 percent and negative concerning the disparity of the gold price.