# Industrial and Commercial Bank of China

Retail Traders Double Down as Gold Crashes; Chinese Banks Raise Bar to Curb Risk

A sharp fall in global gold prices at the end of January and early February prompted Chinese retail investors to average down aggressively while major banks raised minimums and issued warnings to curb risk. The episode reflects growing retail participation in precious‑metals markets and a tension between long‑term structural demand drivers for gold and short‑term monetary policy signals that can reverse price gains rapidly.