The refineries are in the Swiss canton of Ticino bordering Italy.

UBS Group earlier flagged bullion’s prospects after the haven lost out to the dollar in recent weeks as the pandemic roils markets.

Kinross isolated its Kupol mine complex this week, including 866 on-site workers.

Nornickel, the world's largest producer of palladium, has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

Gold is showing signs of steadying after this week’s price rollercoaster.

Switzerland exported 42.7 tonnes of gold in February, less than half the 87.4 tonnes shipped the previous month.

Platinum has plunged 40% and palladium 45% from February highs as efforts to contain coronavirus stifled the global economy.