China's net gold imports via main conduit Hong Kong fell 35.3 percent in April from the previous month as demand for the bullion weakened, data showed on Monday. Imports via Hong Kong by the world's top consumer of the metal fell to 38.43 tonnes in April from 59.4 tonnes in March, according to data emailed to Reuters by the Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department.
Spot gold fell about 0.7 percent in April, largely due to a strong dollar, high US Treasury yields and easing geo-political concerns.
"Gold has been trading in a very narrow range and the overall demand for gold is weakening," said Ronald Leung, chief dealer at Lee Cheong Gold Dealers in Hong Kong.
"People are investing in risky assets like the stock market and real estate rather than gold," he said. Higher appetite for risk curbs the appeal of safe-haven assets such as gold.