Highlights of the Economic Survey 2025-26
'When markets go into a budget with excessive optimism, the risk of disappointment is higher.'
Spot gold fell as far as $1,142.10 an ounce on Thursday, its lowest since November 2014.
In the overseas markets, which normally sets price trend on the domestic front, gold traded a shade higher by 0.05 per cent to $1,319 an ounce and silver by 0.14 per cent to $20.93 an ounce in New York in Tuesday's trade.
Bombay Bullion Association to develop a software for the same.
Two-thirds of gold demand in India comes from rural areas where jewellery is a traditional store of wealth.
Gold prices recovered by Rs 210.
After two years of strong gains, smallcap stocks fell sharply in 2025, but the correction may be setting up opportunities for long-term investors.
While gold continues to provide safety after its strong 2025 rally, well-chosen real estate investments held with a long-term view remain attractive.
Gold, a safe-haven bet, is likely to continue its record-smashing journey in the New Year, rising to Rs 85,000 per 10 grams and even Rs 90,000 level in domestic markets if geopolitical tensions and global economic uncertainties continue.
Silver also dropped by Rs 400 to Rs 35,650 per kg.
Leading FMCG companies have announced a price cut on their products, including soaps, shampoo, baby diapers, toothpaste, razors, and after-shave lotions, effective from September 22 to extend the GST rate cut benefits to consumers. Firms such as Procter & Gamble, Emami and HUL have come up with new price lists which have been communicated to their respective distributors and consumers through their respective websites.
Bullion traders attributed the fall in gold prices to a weakening global trend after the US added the largest number of jobs in almost three years, fuelling concerns that the Federal Reserve will move closer to raising interest rates.
New investors should gradually build a 5 to 10 per cent allocation to gold.
The government has decided to discontinue the Gold Monetisation Scheme (GMS) starting from Wednesday in view of the evolving market conditions, the finance ministry said. However, the banks may continue their short term gold deposit schemes (1-3 years), the ministry said in the statement on Tuesday. Till November 2024, approximately 31,164 kilograms of gold have been mobilised under GMS.
Rediff explains why the system, not the Budget, is the problem.
The demand for gold is expected to take a hit if the price of the yellow metal - which has been hovering around Rs 60,000, a level never seen before - remains elevated. Due to a sharp increase in price in a very short time and the flow of smuggled gold continuing, gold price in Mumbai is quoted at around Rs 59,000 per 10 gram. Typically, overall demand in the January-March and July-September quarters is moderate-to-dull, which is the case in the ongoing period.
'Retail portfolios were going nowhere even as headline indices moved higher, prompting investors to sell holdings and shift money to IPOs, attracted by listing-day gains.'
Market sentiment is likely to remain cautious as investors position themselves for the upcoming Union Budget and the US Fed's interest rate decision, where expectations are muted.
Gold prices on Wednesday jumped to all-time high of Rs 30,420 per 10 grams in the bullion market here on the back of soaring demand ahead of the wedding season amid firming trends in global markets.
From the 30-Sensex firms, Eternal declined by 4.02 per cent, followed by Bajaj Finance (3.88 per cent), Sun Pharma, InterGlobe Aviation, Trent, Asian Paints, Mahindra & Mahindra and Bajaj Finserv. HDFC Bank emerged as the only gainer from the pack.
Gold prices fell further at the local bullion market on Saturday due to reduced off-take by stockists as well as lack of local buying support at the existing levels.
'A 10 to 15 per cent allocation to gold in portfolios reduces risk without compromising on potential returns.'
Traders said persistent buying by jewellers and retailers to meet the festive season demand and a firming global trend as the drop to this year's low lured Chinese buyers returning from a week-long break, mainly kept gold prices higher.
The BSE Sensex has been one of the top-performing areas of investment in the past 40 years, consistently delivering double-digit returns in rupee terms, beating assets such as global equities, precious metals, and fixed income.
The government does not seem keen on issuing fresh gold bonds given the overall cost and rising gold prices.
Super Kishan, Bumrah-led bowlers give India thumping 61-run win over Pakistan
Realme has rolled out its latest premium offerings in the Indian market with the debut of the Realme 16 Pro and Realme 16 Pro+.
Retail inflation rose to a three-month high of 1.33 per cent in December 2025 mainly due to higher prices of kitchen essentials, including vegetables and protein-rich items.
Bullion traders said a weakening trend in global markets, as the dollar's strength eroded demand, mainly put pressure on the precious metal.
Traders said sentiments turned bearish after gold fell to three-week low in global markets as a stronger dollar curbed demand after the Federal Reserve ended its asset-purchase programme because of an improving labour market.
The Nifty 50 index could rise around 24 per cent from current levels to 32,032 by December 2026 in a bull-case scenario, Kotak Securities said in a recent note. "We value Nifty at a 10 per cent premium (at 22x) to the 10-year average price-to-earnings of 20x on 2027-28 estimated (E) earnings per share (EPS) of Rs 1,456, and arrive at a December 2026 Nifty target of 32,032," the analysts wrote.
Bajaj Finance's shares fell more than 7 per cent on Tuesday after it trimmed growth guidance for FY26, from 24-25 per cent projected earlier to 22-23 per cent.
Overall economic activity continued to hold up in November with demand conditions remaining robust, thanks to strengthening urban demand, but manufacturing and rural demand showed some signs of deceleration even as services remained strong, according to an article on the State of the Economy written by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) officials in the central bank's December bulletin.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday clarified in the Lok Sabha that India's rising gold reserves, including those held by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), is not intended to replace any international currency.
The relation between a regulator and its regulated entities is collaborative and not adversarial with the common objective of maintaining the stability and credibility of the financial system. However, the action on regulated entities like penalties and business restrictions are the last resort, Reserve Bank of India (RBI)'s governor Sanjay Malhotra said on Friday.
Investors must account for currency depreciation in their financial plans and use instruments that can cushion the erosion in purchasing power.
'Bank has a robust capital adequacy base. Along with balance sheet preparation, the bank is focusing on strengthening risk management for the new regime.'
Leading jewellery and watchmaker Titan on Monday reported an increase of 59 per cent in consolidated net profit at Rs 1,120 crore for the September quarter of FY26.
