The gold bull market becomes more interesting with every day. Based on disastrous economic fundamentals it now seems to be able to withstand hits of any size.
In a surprising move the IMF announced on Tuesday (CET) that it had sold 200 metric tons of gold to India in the last two weeks, valuing the sale at $6.7 billion or 4.2 billion Special Drawing Rights (SDR). The Reserve Bank of India had last released gold holdings of 357.8 metric tons as of March 2009. This purchase increases India's official gold reserves by more than 55% to 557.8 tons.
According to the release India bought the hoard between October 19 and 30 at daily market prices. Although the sale was done directly it propelled spot gold to the new historic record of $1,066.

GRAPH: Who will win the bet? Checking the chart India bought the 200 tons between $1,030 and the record of $1,066. India may see itself as a huge winner in the short, medium and long term, having upped its gold hoard by 55% to 557.8 tons according to figures from the Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) annual report 2008/2009 (PDF).

With this sale the IMF has sold half of the intended sales volume of 403 tons, announced jointly with the latest Central Bank Gold Sales Agreement in August.
It will be now most interesting to see who will grab the other 203 tons. Both Russia and China had announced in March that they will put a higher emphasis on gold reserves as a share of total forex reserves. Both countries have satisfied their demand from domestic production so far. China has become the biggest gold producer in the world, mining more than 300 tons of gold annually, outpacing energy-strapped South Africa.
The IMF's press release gives no room for speculation. IMF boss Dominique Strauss-Kahn stated,

"This transaction is an important step toward achieving the objectives of the IMF's limited gold sales program, which are to help put the Fund's finances on a sound long-term footing and enable us to step up much-needed concessional lending to the poorest countries."

The IMF is eager not to unsettle gold markets and will probably sell the remainder directly to central banks, it said further.

As previously announced (see Press Release No. 09/310), in accordance with the guiding principle of avoiding disruption of the gold market, the IMF's Executive Board adopted modalities for the gold sales consistent with guidelines it had earlier established. In particular, the Fund is standing ready for an initial period to sell gold directly to central banks and other official holders that may be interested in such sales. Thereafter, on-market sales of any amounts remaining from the 403.3 tons would be conducted in a phased manner over time, following the approach adopted successfully by central banks participating in the Central Bank Gold Agreement.