Gold surges to near $1,000; touches new record in India

Gold prices surged to near 1,000 dollar level in global markets on Friday on investment buying while touching an all-time high in India on festive demand.

Gold in the US futures market reached 999.50 dollar last night, the highest price since Feb 23 helped by lower equities as sluggish stock markets diverted funds to the bullion as a safe haven. The MSCI World Index of shares is down 2.4 per cent this week, heading for its first decline in eight weeks.

The metal also gained as investors sought a haven on concern that a global recovery might be slower than expected. The US jobless rate in August jumped to 9.7 per cent, the highest since 1983.

A firming trend in the US markets, which normally set price trend in Asian region including India, drove the gold prices in India to its record high levels amid brisk buying by stockists and jewellery makers for the ensuing marriage and festival season.

The bullion in the national capital today shot up to an all-time high of nearly Rs 16,000 per 10 gram on last minute heavy purchases by traders to build up stocks before the start of the inauspicious 'Sharad' tomorrow.

The surge in the gold rates was led by heavy demand from jewellers and stockists before Shradh, a inauspicious fortnight for making any fresh purchases, marketmen said.

"We have plenty of orders for jewellery in hand and have to purchase it before the fortnight of Sharads begin," said Delhi-based jeweller Rakesh Anand.

Further the uncertainty in the stocks, which remained more volatile in last one-week, left little option for the investors but to invest in bullion as a safe haven.

In the last one week the Bombay Stock Exchange index Sensex fell for four consecutive days, but gained 290.79 points today at 15,689.12, the last trading day of the week.

Silver ready surged by Rs 700 to Rs 25,300 per kg and weekly-based delivery by Rs 560 to Rs 25,700 per kg.

Standard gold and ornaments shot up by Rs 200 each to Rs 15,900 and Rs 15,750 per 10 gram respectively. Sovereign also rose to all-time high by gaining Rs 100 to Rs 12,800 per piece of eight gram.

Source: EconomicTimes