KOTA BARU, Dec 5- Goldsmiths with blowtorches and chisels sit at wooden desks in a backroom workshop in Malaysia as they melt and mold the precious metal into glittery jewelry. Over the coronavirus pandemic, demand for the safe-haven product has increased and it is not just professional investors who cash in but also small businesses. This year the Makmur Gold …

Thailand’s gold shops are running out of cash because so many people want to sell ornaments, jewelry and bars amid an economic slowdown. “I’m asking people to sell gradually, not in large amounts, as shops may face a cash crunch,” Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha said in a briefing Wednesday in Bangkok. The yellow metal remains a popular way for Thais …