Gold could lose its luster after record high

BEIJING - China's bullion investments may slow down this year compared with the sharp growth in 2010 as record-high gold prices increased the potential risk of price volatility, industry executives said on Tuesday.

Song Quanli, a senior officer with the China National Gold Group Corp, said the country's bullion consumption rose to 141.9 tons in 2010, up 94 percent from the previous year, as the realty market and stock market turned bearish.

"Bullion investments will not maintain their high growth rate as in 2010 because the gold price hit a record high and investors will try to avoid risks to slow the investment pace," Song said.