The World Gold Council (WGC) reports that total gold demand hit a record last year, and is expected to rise again in 2024. Overall demand climbed by about 3% to 4,899 metric tons last year, supported by strong demand in the opaque over-the-counter market, as well as from sustained central-bank buying, according to the WGC’s full-year report. It is interesting to note annual gold demand, excluding OTC, of 4,448 tons was actually 5% below a very strong 2022. But when you Include the OTC markets’ flow of 398 tons, total gold demand in 2023 was the highest on record, at the aforementioned 4,899 to…