(Adds company's comment)
Feb 4 (Reuters) - The Perth Mint's January sales of gold products rose nearly 7 percent from the previous month, while silver sales also increased, the mint said on Monday.
January sales of gold coins and minted bars rose to 31,189 ounces from 29,186 ounces in December, the mint said in a blog post.
Silver sales in January were up about 20 percent from the previous month, and hit their highest since November 2018 at 828,854 ounces.
"The ongoing U.S.-China trade conflict and the so-far unresolved effort by Britain to strike an agreement to exit the European Union are two factors that are contributing to investor nervousness," a company spokesman said.
"With the potential for further equity market volatility, many are building their holdings of traditional safe haven assets."
Spot gold XAU= rose for a fourth consecutive month in January, gaining about 3 percent. GOL/
The Perth Mint refines more than 90 percent of newly mined gold in Australia, the world's second-largest gold producer after China.
Period
Gold (oz)
Silver (oz)
(year-month)
2019-Jan
31,189
828,854
2018-Dec
29,186
692,971
2018-Nov
64,308
876,446
2018-Oct
36,840
1,079,684
2018-Sept
62,552
1,305,600
2018-August
38,904
520,245
2018-July
29,921
486,821
2018-June
16,847
229,280
2018-May
14,800
557,120
2018-April
15,161
458,655
2018-March
29,883
975,921
2018-Feb
26,473
992,954
2018-Jan
37,174
1,067,361
2017-Dec
27,009
874,437
2017-Nov
23,901
544,436
2017-Oct
44,618
999,425
2017-Sept
46,415
697,849
2017-Aug
23,130
392,091
2017-July
23,675
1,167,963
2017-June
19,259
1,215,071
2017-May
29,679
826,656
2017-April
10,490
468,977
2017-March
22,232
716,283
2017-Feb
25,257
502,353
2017-Jan
72,745
1,230,867
2016-Dec
63,420
430,009
2016-Nov
54,747
984,622
2016-Oct
79,048
1,084,213
2016-Sept
58,811
1,031,858
2016-Aug
14,684
376,461
2016-July
16,870
693,447
2016-June
31,368
1,220,817
2016-May
21,035
974,865
2016-April
47,542
1,161,766
2016-March
47,948
1,756,238
2016-Feb
37,063
1,049,062
2016-Jan
47,759
1,473,408