Joshua Rotbart, Founder of J. Rotbart & Co., shares key takeaways from the LBMA / LPPM Global Precious Metals Conference 2026 in Sorrento, Italy, exploring geopolitical developments, Germany’s gold repatriation, the growing competition between Hong Kong and Singapore as global bullion hubs, and the implications of shifting gold reserves for London’s market liquidity.
Hong Kong, HONG KONG, Oct. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — J. Rotbart & Co., an international precious metals brokerage and storage firm, today released its assessment of two themes from the LBMA/LPPM Global Precious Metals Conference in Sorrento: gold’s role in a more fragmented geopolitical environment and the expansion of gold market infrastructure in Hong Kong and Singapore.
Mr. Joshua Rotbart, founder of Precious Metals Brokerage J. Rotbart & Co.
Joshua Rotbart, founder of J. Rotbart & Co., a precious metals brokerage based in Hong Kong and Singapore, says the developments bring custody, legal title, access and storage jurisdiction into sharper focus for family offices and institutional investors.
The conference ran between the 4th and 6th of October. In his opening keynote, Deutsche Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel described how geopolitical risk is influencing central bank reserve management. He noted that physical gold has no issuer or payment counterparty and that domestically held gold is not exposed to the same potential freezing risk as foreign securities and deposits. Nagel also observed that higher gold prices, rather than purchases alone, drove much of the recent increase in gold’s share of global reserves.
“President Nagel’s point aligns with what we have been telling our clients for the last couple of years: the case for gold now centers on how geopolitics shapes central bankers’ mindset. They’re increasingly looking at gold to diversify their balance sheets,” Rotbart said.
Asian infrastructure adds a second dimension
At a conference session on 6 October, officials from Hong Kong and Singapore described plans to deepen their roles as international bullion hubs. Hong Kong’s central gold clearing and settlement system began trial operations in July 2026, while Singapore is developing additional vaulting, clearing and liquidity capacity. The conference framed those efforts as ways to connect Asian demand with established global markets.
“Having offices in both Hong Kong and Singapore puts us close to the gold infrastructure taking shape in each market,” said Rotbart, “Geopolitics is prompting central banks to think harder about where gold is held. Private investors should ask the same question. Spreading physical holdings across established hubs can reduce dependence on a single jurisdiction, provided ownership, custody and access are clearly defined.”
For family offices and institutions, the practical step is to review where existing bullion is held and whether storage across Hong Kong and Singapore would improve geographic flexibility and access.
“The point of owning physical gold is to preserve options when the world offers fewer of them. A gold bar’s price may be global, but its storage is a question of jurisdiction,” Rotbart said. “At J. Rotbart & Co., we’re well versed in helping clients choose storage jurisdictions that fit their circumstances and goals.”
About J. Rotbart & Co.
J. Rotbart & Co. is an international precious-metals brokerage and storage firm. We specialize in the purchasing, logistics, storage, financing, conversions, payments, and liquidations of physical bullion for high-net-worth clients. Founded in 2016, we have traded and stored over US$3 billion in precious metals. We advise private investors, family offices, and institutions seeking long-term capital protection through allocated, fully segregated precious metals ownership. Our founder, Mr. Joshua Rotbart, is one of the world’s leading experts on precious metals investment. He’s a regular keynote speaker at investment conferences and precious metals events, and provides regular commentary for global media outlets. “Markets promise returns. Gold delivers permanence.” – Joshua Rotbart
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A video accompanying this announcement is available here: https://youtube.com/watch?v=utwz1kkBS3s
