The People’s Bank of China raised bullion holdings to 62.45 million ounces in August from 62.26 million a month earlier, according to data on its website at the weekend.

In tonnage terms, August’s inflow was 5.91 tons, following the addition of about 94 tons in the previous eight months.

Bullion is near a six-year high as central banks including the Federal Reserve cut interest rates as signs of a slowdown mount amid the US-China trade war.

Central-bank purchases have been another key support for prices as authorities from China to Russia accumulate significant quantities of bullion to help diversify their reserves.

That buying spree is likely to persist in the coming years, according to Australia & New Zealand Banking Group.

Trade war restrictions, in the case of China, or sanctions, as with Russia, give “an incentive for these central banks to diversify,” John Sharma, an economist at National Australia Bank, said in an email.

“Also, with increasing political and economic uncertainty prevailing, gold provides an ideal hedge, and will therefore be sought after by central banks globally.”

China has previously gone long periods without revealing increases in gold holdings.

When the central bank announced a 57% jump in reserves to 53.3 million ounces in mid-2015, it was the first update in six years.

Spot gold rose 0.2% to US$1,510.27 an ounce on Monday.

Prices, which capped a fourth straight monthly gains in August, have risen 18% this year.

Goldman Sachs Group and BNP Paribas are among banks that expect the metal to challenge US$1,600 an ounce within the coming months.