Czech central bank's gold holdings jump in 2024

PRAGUE, Jan 7 (Reuters) - The Czech National Bank purchased 20.5 metric tons of gold in 2024, raising its international reserves by 66%, data from the bank showed on Tuesday, part of a diversification drive for its holdings. The bank's gold holdings at the end of 2024 stood at 1.645 million troy ounces, equivalent to 51.2 tons, and Governor Ales Michl has said he wants to increase that amount to 100 tons in the coming years. Policymakers have sought to diversify reserves with gradual purchases of gold, while also shifting a bigger share of reserves to equities to help create sustained profits for the bank. Czech international reserves stood at 140.92 billion euros ($146.98 billion) at the end of 2024, bank data showed on Monday. ($1 = 0.9588 euros) (Reporting by Jason Hovet; editing by Jason Neely) (([email protected];))