Big changes ahead for gold in the global monetary scene

Gold has hit successive records this year and is set to close 2024 more than 25% higher.

At Monday's close, Russia's largest gold producer was the most expensive of all blue-chip stocks on the Moscow Exchange.

El Salvador became the first country in the world to ban all forms of metals mining in 2017.

Bullion traded near $2,626 an ounce in thin trading after closing 1.1% higher on Friday.