Gold scales to eight-month high at Rs 31,525

Gold prices took another jump of Rs. 515 to scale an eight-month high of Rs. 31,525 per ten gram in New Delhi on Saturday on sustained buying by stockists and investors.

After its biggest single day rise in two years on Friday, the precious metal advanced to a level last seen on December 18, 2012 due to tumbling rupee and stocks.

The rally in precious metals sparked after rupee plunged to all-time low of 61.65 against American currency, raising fears the dollar-denominated metal would become costlier and restrict supply into the market after the RBI prohibited inward shipment of gold coins.

Investors rushing to bullion as a safe haven following free fall in equities and Forex further influenced the market sentiment. Firming global trend was another positive factor for the precious metals.

“Melting equities and depreciating rupee have left no other option for the investor fraternity but to park their funds in bullion,” said Surender Jain, Vice President of All India Sarafa Bazar.

Restricted supply, after government increased import duty on the metal to 10 per cent on August 13, and firm global cues supported the upsurge in the metal, he added.

The latest measures by RBI and the government are part of a series of steps taken to curb gold import, a major contributor to the widening current account deficit.

Silver followed suit and shot up further by Rs. 1,365 to Rs. 50,685 per kg on increased demand from industrial units and coin makers.

In the national capital, gold of 99.9 and 99.5 per cent purity advanced by Rs. 515 each to Rs. 31,525 and Rs. 31,325 per ten grams, respectively.

Sovereign followed suit and climbed by Rs. 200 to Rs. 24,900 per piece of eight gram.

Similarly, silver ready added Rs. 1,365 to Rs. 50,685 per kg and weekly-based delivery by Rs. 1,315 to Rs. 50,535 per kg, after steep rise of Rs. 3,270 in the previous session.

Silver coins spurted by Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 87,000 for buying and Rs. 88,000 for selling of 100 pieces.