Abstract
The article focuses on the motives and trends in gold holdings by central banks in recent decades. It examines the correlation between the nominal and real price of gold and selected macroeconomic variables and financial assets over the financial and business cycles.
In this context, it outlines gold investment opportunities for central banks and other investors. The paper also highlights differences in gold holdings between the central banks of advanced economies (including those with reserve currencies) and those of emerging market and developing economies.
It concludes by presenting a rationale for the position of the Czech National Bank, which ranks among the modern central banks holding minimal amounts of reserve gold.