The prices of gold are mostly influenced by trading activity in the London Over-the-Counter (OTC) spot gold market and the COMEX gold futures market, rather than the availability and demand for physical gold. Other markets like the Shanghai Gold Exchange (SGE) and Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) usually mirror the prices set by the London and New York paper gold markets. Additionally, global economic and political events, as well as central bank policies and currency fluctuations, can also play a significant role in shaping the price of gold.