Russia has become the world's biggest buyer of gold. Following a policy set by long-time leader Vladimir Putin, Russia's Central Bank added 570 metric tons of gold, about 25 percent more than second-ranked gold bug China acquired over the same period.
A German newspaper reports the country's central bank will repatriate parts of its massive gold reserves worth about $200 billion at current market rates from storage sites in the United States and in France.
The Federal Reserve is far and away the biggest holder of gold reserves in the world, but other large central banks are sitting on considerable amounts of the precious metal as well. From Germany to India, take a look at the top owners of gold reserves.