Dutch move tonnes of gold out of US

Amsterdam - The Dutch Central Bank says it has recently shipped 122.5 tonnes of gold worth around $5bn from safekeeping in New York back to its headquarters in Amsterdam.

In a statement on Friday morning the bank said that its 612.5-tonne national gold reserve is now divided 31% in Amsterdam, 31% in New York, 20% in Ottawa, Canada and 18% in London.

"With this adjustment the Dutch Central Bank joins other banks that are keeping a larger share of their gold supply in their own country," the bank said in a statement.

"In addition to a more balanced division of the gold reserves...this may also contribute to a positive confidence effect with the public."