Iraq Boosts Gold Reserves by 2% in Single Day in Gradual Buildup

Iraq’s central bank boosted its gold reserves by about 2% in a single day last week as part of what it calls a gradual plan to stock up on the precious metal that’s seen as a traditional haven in times of economic distress.

Iraq bought 2.5 tons of bullion on Thursday to bring its reserves to 132.73 tons, Mazin Sabah, director general of the central bank’s investments department, said in an interview in Baghdad. The strategy is to acquire more gold in the second half of the year, Sabah said.