Today Gold Rate

Price of Gold in Different Cities

Today Gold Price in India

In India, there is a sentimental value associated with gold. The yellow metal symbolizes prosperity and wealth. Gold jewellery is so dear to Indian women that they can’t enough of it. Since gold is an important part of auspicious celebrations, the sale of gold increases drastically around Diwali. Gold rate changes every day; if you want to buy gold, simply type today gold rate in google search box and conduct a Google search. Keeping up with the current gold rate is a must if you wish to hit the el dorado.

Gold ornaments are quite popular in our country. The shopping for Indian weddings is incomplete without gold. The best thing about gold is that it can be easily sold in case there is a financial crunch.

While gold fascinates Indian women, it attracts investors as well. For investment purposes, investors buy gold coins, gold bars, gold ETFs etc. Investment experts recommend not buying gold jewellery for investment purposes. It is because when gold jewellery is purchased; it attracts additional charges in the form of making charges.

Today gold price is affected by various factors such as demand and supply, market scenarios across the globe and the strength of US dollar etc. Additionally, the price of gold differs in various cities across India as well. Various factors such as taxes, demand, carriage, local associations etc. affect the gold price in different cities.

Comparison of 22 K & 24 K Gold Rates in India

Historical Price of Gold Rate

• Trend of Gold Rate in India for May 2018 (rates per gram for 22/24 carat gold)

  • Gold Rates	22 Carat	24 Carat
    May 1st Rate	Rs. 3040.00/- per gram	Rs. 3251.34/- per gram
    May 31st Rate	Rs. 3035.00/- per gram	Rs. 3245.99/- per gram
    Highest May Rate	Rs. 3080.00/- per gram	Rs. 3294.12/- per gram
    Lowest May Rate	Rs. 3020.00/- per gram	Rs. 3229.95/- per gram
    Overall Performance	Decline	Decline
    Percentage Change	0.16 %	0.16 %

• Trend of Gold Rate in for April 2018 (rates per gram for 22/24 carat gold)

  • Gold Rates	22 Carat	24 Carat
    Apr 1st Rate	Rs. 2984.00/- per gram	Rs. 3191.44/- per gram
    Apr 30th Rate	Rs. 3040.00/- per gram	Rs. 3251.34/- per gram
    Highest Apr Rate	Rs. 3055.00/- per gram	Rs. 3267.38/- per gram
    Lowest Apr Rate	Rs. 2980.00/- per gram	Rs. 3187.17/- per gram
    Overall Performance	Decline	Decline
    Percentage Change	-1.88 %	-1.88 %

• Trend of Gold Rate in for March 2018 (rates per gram for 22/24 carat gold)

  • Gold Rates	22 Carat	24 Carat
    Mar 1st Rate	Rs. 2965.00/- per gram	Rs. 3171.12/- per gram
    Mar 31st Rate	Rs. 2984.00/- per gram	Rs. 3191.44/- per gram
    Highest Mar Rate	Rs. 3020.00/- per gram	Rs. 3229.95/- per gram
    Lowest Mar Rate	Rs. 2950.00/- per gram	Rs. 3155.08/- per gram
    Overall Performance	Decline	Decline
    Percentage Change	-0.64 %	-0.64 %

• Trend of Gold Rate in for February 2018 (rates per gram for 22/24 carat gold)

  • Gold Rates	22 Carat	24 Carat
    Feb 1st Rate	Rs. 2920.00/- per gram	Rs. 3123.00/- per gram
    Feb 28th Rate	Rs. 2965.00/- per gram	Rs. 3171.12/- per gram
    Highest Feb Rate	Rs. 3010.00/- per gram	Rs. 3219.25/- per gram
    Lowest Feb Rate	Rs. 2890.00/- per gram	Rs. 3090.91/- per gram
    Overall Performance	Decline	Decline
    Percentage Change	-1.54 %	-1.54 %

• Trend of Gold Rate in for January 2018 (rates per gram for 22/24 carat gold)

  • Gold Rates	22 Carat	24 Carat
    Jan 1st Rate	Rs. 2850.00/- per gram	Rs. 3048.13/- per gram
    Jan 31st Rate	Rs. 2920.00/- per gram	Rs. 3123.00/- per gram
    Highest Jan Rate	Rs. 2960.00/- per gram	Rs. 3165.78/- per gram
    Lowest Jan Rate	Rs. 2835.00/- per gram	Rs. 3032.09/- per gram
    Overall Performance	Decline	Decline
    Percentage Change	-2.46 %	-2.46 %

• Trend of Gold Rate in for December 2017 (rates per gram for 22/24 carat gold)

  • Gold Rates	22 Carat	24 Carat
    Dec 2nd Rate	Rs. 2820.00/- per gram	Rs. 3016.04/- per gram
    Dec 31st Rate	Rs. 2825.00/- per gram	Rs. 3021.39/- per gram
    Highest Dec Rate	Rs. 2825.00/- per gram	Rs. 3021.39/- per gram
    Lowest Dec Rate	Rs. 2750.00/- per gram	Rs. 2941.18/- per gram
    Overall Performance	Decline	Decline
    Percentage Change	-0.18 %	-0.18 %

The Glittering Gold of India

India's Inclination towards Gold

India has a long standing affinity to gold. It is the metal of the gods, and gods of the metals! It is the indication of the long lasting and evergreen heritage of this traditional country. Anything made of gold is regarded infinitely precious and hence, commands respect.

The heavier the gold, the more prestigious the status is thought to be. Most of the women in India prefer gold to diamonds, and the gold market in India is always loaded with fresh and vivid designs. Also, in comparison to diamond, the current gold rate is lesser, and hence, more bought.

Buying Gold in India

Buying gold in India is pretty easy in the sense that you can find genuine gold jewellery shops almost everywhere. From large franchise to smaller shops, gold is everywhere. You can get the standard 22 carats gold, the intermediate 23 carats gold, as well as the pure 24 carats gold, in this golden country. However, before heading to the nearest jeweller’s, do search for Gold Rate Today or Today gold rate on Google for the latest price of gold.

What Do You Buy?

This is entirely your choice. Gold rings, earrings and necklaces, there is plethora of options available. From heavy and gorgeous ones to light and simple ones, you can buy anything made of gold, if you budget allows you to do so.

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Common Factors that Determine Gold Prices in India

For ages, the Indian population has had a fascination for gold. It is the most cherished metal, and it is flaunted in the form of jewellery at every occasion. The gold rate today in India is not standard. The gold price oscillates based on fluctuations in the market.

There are several factors that influence the gold price today in India. The top most reason is the geo-political distress in and around the country. When the Presidential elections were held in the United States, the price of gold initially rallied sharply and then fell again. It was because the investors became aware of the fact that equity shares were performing better. Later on, it became crystal clear that the newly elected President's policies might be volatile, due to that, gold prices hiked again.

There are several factors that might continue to keep the current gold rates volatile this year.

Also, the performance of a currency is also a big determinant of the price of gold today. In this regard, the most important currency is the USD. If the USD climbs up, gold rates are likely to move down worldwide. A lot is at stake due to Indian currency as well. It specifically relates to gold rates in India. You should keep a tab on current gold rate in India. Domestically, when rupee is stronger, gold prices are lower.

Global Changes in Gold Prices

The price of gold in India is predominantly dependent on the global prices of the metal. Most of the gold in the Indian markets in imported. When there is a change in the global rate of gold, the import values are altered accordingly. The market price of gold in India is a direct reflection of the import prices.

The Gold Reserve Measure

Almost all nations have their central banks. These governing banks of major countries hold back the metal along with currencies for future use. The Reserve Bank does this too. When these banks all over the world acquire more gold for reservation, it leads to a rise in the rate of gold.

An Overall Demand

There are specific reasons for a rise in consumer demand for gold. In India, it is the wedding season or festivities. When the demand is more, there is an imbalance in the demand-supply ratio. This leads to a rise in the gold prices.

Apart from the above-mentioned reasons several other determinants influence the current gold rate in India. At any given point of time, the gold price today will also depend on the interest rates of certain financial services and products. No matter the price, the yellow metal has remained precious over the years and will continue that way irrespective of the oscillating prices.

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How is Hallmarked Today Gold Rate Determined in India?

There isn’t any difference between hallmarked gold rate today and normal gold rate. Any gold seller doesn’t charge extra money if you buy hallmarked gold. The rate at which the hallmarked gold and the normal gold are sold is the same. The sole and most important difference is that you are ensured of purity when you buy hallmarked gold.

The important thing to keep in mind is that hallmarked gold price in India does not differ when it comes to the pricing. The difference lies in the quality of the metal used. When you buy gold, buy good quality gold. It is good to buy the hallmarked gold as it ensures the quality. Many investors have raised their opinions on the less number of hallmarking centres available in our country. This is an important issue that needs to be addressed by our government so that number of hallmarking centres can be increased. This will be of great help to the consumers across India.

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How is the Per-Gram Today Gold Price in India Arrived at?

The gold price today in India is determined by the following factors:

1. Currency - When the rupee slips against the dollar, India gold rate rises up.

2. International factors - These factors include slowdown of the global economic development, volatile policies, dollar becoming stronger against different currencies etc.

3. Global demand for gold - Global demand for gold plays a crucial role in determining the price of gold in India. In case the demand is robust, the prices would rise and vice-versa.

4. Interest rates - The rate of interest is a crucial factor that affects the gold rates in India. When the rate of interest in countries such as America increases, current gold rate in India falls and when it falls, the gold rates increase.

5. Government policies - There are times when the government discourages the purchase of gold. For instance- when the gold prices are high, the government discourages any investments in gold. It is done in order to make sure that there isn’t any problem with the deficit.

6. Prices - High price of gold discourage the consumption in our country. Off late, the price of gold in India has increased.

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How is 22-Karat Gold Price in India Determined and Who Imports it?

Now, India doesn’t mine gold. Places such as Kolar in Karnataka once used to be gold mines and now are closed. India imports approximately all of its required gold requirements. The imported gold rate is used to determine the 22-karat gold rate in India. Gold importers, such as government banks, private banks, and many private companies etc. fix the wholesale gold prices in India.

When gold is imported in India, the importers add import duties, VAT etc., and then they sell it to the wholesalers, who retail it to the retailers across India. The price of gold is decided by the bullion association. Gold prices don’t change often during the day.

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Impacts of QE on Gold Price Today in India

Quantitative easing is widely known as QE. It is another component that impacts gold rates in India. In quantitative easing, there is money supply in the economy for enhancing the consumption. Global central banks buy securities which lead to the extra money supply in the economy. This extra money supply finds a way into global gold investments, which pushes the prices of the metal higher.

An increase in the QE affects the gold rate today in India, which affects all the form of gold inclusive of the popular 916 gold rates in India. Off late, QE happening around the world is not that much. The US is done with its QE phase and there is some kind of easing happening in the countries such as Japan along with the Europe through the various central banks.

At present, it seems very unlikely there will be QE in that country. When the world economy will face any liquidity issues, gold rates could fall in the trade. Along with QE, there are some other components that lead to gold rallying. The withdrawal of QE will bring a fall in the gold prices.  The US is now winding down its QE; there could be chances that gold rates in India could be impacted.

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Demand for Gold in India Goes Up 15% in 2017

The demand for gold in India has increased by 15% in the initial quarter of the financial year to 123.5 tonnes, leaving a sign of hope for positive return. If we compared with the last year, the total gold demand stood for 107.3 tonnes, owing to the jewellers' strike over excise duty introduction. As per World Gold Council estimation, gold demand increased by 18% in the first quarter to Rs. 32, 420 crore, which was just Rs 27,540 crore in Q1 2016. Here’s a sneak peek on how the demand changes over time:

Demand for Gold	Year-wise Hike
Subject	2016	2017
Jewellery demand	79.8 tonnes	16% rise at 92.3 tonnes
Value of jewellery demand	20,484 crore	24, 220 crore with 18% hike
Value term gold investment demand	7,050 crore	8,200 crore, 16% hike
Recycling	14 tonnes	Went up by 3% to 14.5 tonnes
Imports during January-March 2017	127.4 tonnes	Rose by 112% to 270.1 tonnes

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Why is Gold a Good Option to Invest in India?

If you are keen to invest in gold, you’ll get a plethora of investment options in India. But before investing in gold, you need to be clear about certain things such as why you are investing, the tax liability, the other investment options and everything that you aspire to know about gold. Gold trading has picked the pace within a short span of time by offering favourite investment avenues in India. Though Indian gold market witnessed a stagger in the initial phase of this year regarding Indian Gold Rate, the stalwarts say this is a transitory phase that will pass by soon.

Here are various gold options you can avail in India to invest for good returns:

Jewellery: Buying jewellery every now and then is just like a tradition. In India, some rituals urge to wear or buy jewellery. This way you can invest in gold and can keep it for future use. However, one disadvantage associated with this is that the making charge is included in the buying cost and at the time of selling it, you might get the lesser amount or have to compromise on the making charge if you sell it to the same jeweller from whom you bought it. Because there is no guarantee that the gold price today will remain the same the very next day.

Gold Coin & Bars: Investing in gold coins and bars is trending these days. But be careful while buying. You should only prefer buying it from jewellers or authorised banks. The only difference is that banks sell gold coins and bar but they cannot buy it again. Jewellers, on the other hand, sell the gold and can buy it back from you as well.

Gold ETF: ETF stands for Gold Exchanged Traded Fund, a type of mutual fund which invests in gold and its units are being listed on the stock exchange. If you are seeking to invest in ETF in India, you need to purchase it from the stock exchange by simply opening a demat and trading account. The brokerage fee will be borne by you at the applicable ROI. Further, you need to pay the fund management charge as per the stock exchange norms.

Gold Mutual Fund: Gold Mutual Funds invest in gold ETFs on your behalf. You can invest here just like you invest in other mutual fund schemes.  Also, SIP investment is probable in gold mutual funds. But keep this mind:

1. You’ll have to pay annual management charges for Gold ETF
2. Annual management charges to be paid for FOD Scheme

Needless to say, before buying or investing in any of the above-mentioned options, a web search today gold rate would be a wise decision. Doing this will help you keep tabs on the current gold rate.

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Investing in Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme

If you want to invest in physical gold, you should go by the current gold rate. Switch to Sovereign Gold Bonds as they are a much better option. Buying SGB eliminates various risks such as theft, fraud etc. which is why you should consider purchasing gold bonds from top-listed commercial banks. These bonds offer you a nominal interest rate of 2.75% and can be redeemed at the rate specified by the Reserve Bank of India.

SGB can be purchased from the Stock Holding Corporation as well as post offices. There are investors who don’t wish to invest in the bonds since the interest earned comes under tax scrutiny. However, you can enjoy 2 benefits from SGB. First, you get capital appreciation; second, you get regular interest. Hence, investors get to enjoy dual benefits. However, the liquidity of SGB is often questioned and is considered to be very poor. Currently, the NSE-listed bonds are priced at Rs. 28,200 per 10 gms.

SGB is a hit because of its rate of interest, but due to its lock-in period, SGB is disliked by investors.

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Store your Gold Safely in India

The best way to store your gold is to stash it safely in a bank locker. Rent a bank locker and keep your gold guarded. But bank-lockers have their own pros and cons. They’re a bit expensive, but they are the safest option. Yet, every time you need to access your gold, you will have to visit the bank. And on bank holidays and Sundays, you cannot access your bank locker. While it is the safest option, there is no guarantee against fire or theft.

To sort this problem, it is recommended to buy gold in its electronic form. Electronic gold is safe against fire or theft. It is ideal for investors looking for long-term savings in gold.

The best thing about buying e-gold is that it helps you in keeping a tab on India gold price. As gold prices in India haven’t been at their best, keeping a watch on the gold rate today is the best way to track today gold prices.

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Physical Gold vs. Gold ETFs vs. Sovereign Gold Bonds

Physical gold, gold ETFs, Sovereign Gold Bonds are the various options for investment in gold. These three gold instruments track the rate of this metal.

	Physical Gold	Gold ETFs	Sovereign Gold Bonds
Storage	One might have to face storage-related issues.	Electronic gold, hence, requires no storage space. No worries.	Again with Sovereign Gold Bonds, there are no such worries.
Interest	No interest can be enjoyed. That’s why a lot of investors consider gold as non-yielding bullion.	No interest rate. But, the return varies over financial firms that offer gold ETFs	Going for a gold bond ensures that some interest will be enjoyed. That rate of interest is stipulated by the Reserve Bank of India.
Safety	Needs a safe storage space.	As an electronic form of gold, safety is assured.	Buying sovereign gold bonds means you need not worry about theft or destruction. It is a win-win deal.

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The Gold Import: India

If you are traveling to India from abroad and gold is one thing you’d like to bring with you, then you need to know how gold is imported to India. Here is the criterion for duty-free import of gold:

1. For Male Passengers - Male passengers can’t carry gold worth more than Rs. 50 thousand.
2. For Female Passengers - Female passengers can’t carry gold worth more than Rs. 1 Lakh. 

You can ask your kids to carry the yellow metal if they are eligible as per the import allowance, but only if they have stayed abroad for at least a year.

People coming to India from overseas have a few import-related questions in their mind. The prices are based on the rates defined by the government for gold import.

Indian government discourages import of gold in India. It’s because the gold purchased in dollars drains the Forex reserves of India. The Indian government has come up with Sovereign Gold Scheme in order to make sure the demand for physical gold is reduced. Because it might not be feasible to continue doing the same, the government has come up with various alternatives to serve this purpose. 

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22 Karat and 24 Karat Gold: Know the Difference

The purity of Gold is measured through a unit called ‘Karat’. There is a belief that higher the karat, purer the gold is. You will get a variety of gold options such as 22 karat, 24 karat, 18 karat. You should be prudent before making any investment especially in case of 22 and 24 karat gold and their difference. Also, thorough check of current price of gold cannot go amiss. To do so, simply search for India Gold Rate in your browser search bar.

24 Karat Gold	22 Karat Gold
It has no trace of other metal	Marketable in jewellery or decorative form
Known as 99.95 pure gold	Not 100% pure gold, up to 92% is pure gold and remaining part is preservative metals such as zinc, silver or other metals.
Slightly expensive than the other	It is cheaper than 24 karat gold with less weight
It offers guaranteed resell globally due to liquidity of gold and extreme demand	The colour of gold is changeable by mixing other metals like alloy
Gold colour is pure yellow and untainted
It cannot be used directly in making ornaments or jewellery	Though it is best for jewellery making but not recommended for diamond or gemstone studded jewellery.
Not bendable in its original and pure form	It can be easily shaped into jewellery.

 

Despite the differences, they both are considered as the pure form of gold due to the percentage they offer. However, if you are in quest of investing in gold bars, 24-karat gold makes more sense owing to its robust and resell benefit.

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Factors Influencing Gold Price in India

Gold price is not steady. Today gold rate may vary from yesterday owing to a few factors that have an extensive influence on rise or decrease of gold rate in India. Let’s look at a few of them. Here we go:

Influence of Inflation Rate

Due to its steady nature, the investors prefer to use gold over currency. It results in an increase of the demand for gold when inflation is high. The price of gold also tends to shoot up with the increasing demand for gold among the investors and customers. This, in turn, affects gold rate today in India, further affecting the hike or dip.

Global Movement

The global movement may affect the today gold price in India. India being the largest importer, gold is being imported today from each part of the world. Hence, when import rates change owing to a global movement, some it holds a significant impact on gold price in India. Since any political disturbance may influence the value of currency or financial products, gold is considered as a safe sanctuary by the investors. It is often noticed that an interest for purchasing gold increases during a political crisis than a normal time. This situation is called as ‘Crisis Commodity’ as customers tend to buy more gold, trailing the confidence in the government and the market.

Government Gold Reserves

Central banks, in most cases, have the right for gold reservation. Reserve Bank of India is one such institution which can hold a gold reserve. When central banks do so or procuring gold in excess, the today gold rate goes up. It is due to the rise in the flow of cash in the market but the supply goes down.

Jewellery

Jewellery has always been placed in a special category in India, mostly among the women. And when it comes in the form of gold, it is icing on the cake. Be it a wedding, festivals, birthdays, wearing gold jewellery is kind of a fashion here that has been followed since ages. There are festivals when the gold price goes up like Diwali due to the increasing demand for gold, and when demand and supply are unable to balance each other out, it results in rising gold rates. Again, the demand doesn’t end here. Even in electronic items like TV, computers, GPS etc. it has been used in small quantity. In India, gold is a medium of showing off your status, as a gifting element, which, by any means, increases its demand day by day. Gold rate today plays an important role in sale and purchase of gold jewellery and ornaments.

Interest rate trends

Interests rates imposed on financial products and services also affect the gold rate today. If interest rate increases, customers seek to sell gold to obtain cash and on the other hand, a rise in the supply of gold leads to the reduced price of gold and vice-versa.

GST Imposed on 24 Karat Gold

Gold rates have slightly gone up as 3% of Goods and Services Tax (GST) is being imposed on gold jewellery. Before GST, gold jewellers used to pay 1.5 excise duty, 1.2% VAT and 10% as customs duty on the gold purchase, which comes around 12.43% tax. After 3% GST came into practice, the jewellers are now paying 10% for import duty, 18% tax for making charges, which was zero before GST. And this effectively comes to 15.67%. However, with the constant protest of Indian Jewellery Council, the government later fixed the tax on making charges at 5%. The buyers now also have to pay an extra 3.24% tax as per GST rule while buying Gold jewellery.

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How Gold Prices Move in India and Globally?

There are a few components, which play a crucial role in affecting the India gold rate in a positive or negative way. Here are the 5 reasons why gold rate today is different as compared to 10 years ago.

1. Demand/Supply - Demand is the sole reason why the rate of gold changes every day on a regular basis. When the supply of gold is constant and its demand increases during the festive/marriage season, the gold price increases. 
2. Global Production - On an average, the global gold production is approx. 2,500 tonnes during any given year as compared to the total gold circulation across the globe which is approx. 165,000 metric tonnes. The applicable gold price is affected by the production cost of the additional gold.
3. Industrial Uses and Jewellery - The combination of the different features make gold a perfect choice for various industrial usages. As the consumption of these industrial products increases, the demand for gold also increases. In India, 50 percent of the gold demand arises from the jewellery sector. During the festive season, the demand for gold increases that leads price increases.
4. Central Bank Controls - The gold reserves at the central bank ensure that the deficit financing doesn’t devaluate the currency so that hyperinflation is kept at bay.
5. Economic Instability - In our world, no economy is self-sufficient and each country depends on another country for some kind of goods or services. In these situations, the key player in the world economy is the US Federal Reserve and each country has its own central bank. When these central banks introduce any measures which are considered as erratic then, many investors go for safer options such as gold instead of paper currency so that they have some tangible security. This leads to increase in the gold rates.

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What are the Various Gold Options Available to Buyers?

Physical gold is available in 24 karats, which is considered as the purest form of gold. The 22 karat is the jewellery grade gold and 18 karat is less precious.

Here are the common formats for buying gold.

1. Jewellery (with/without precious gems/stones) - It comes with purity issues, safe keeping issues along with the manufacturing charges. Gold rate is different from the exchange traded price.
2. Gold Coins - They can be of historic nature if they are collected from any archaeological digs. The coins minted under the Central Bank guarantee the purity which is available in different denominations from 2 grams-50 grams.
3. Gold Bars - Minted by RBI at designated mints, these are guaranteed to be pure and these are available through the selected banking institutions only.

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Gold Trading as a Commodity in India

Commodity trading is a new development in our country and gold has become one of the key commodities that is being traded in the commodity exchanges of India. One can go for gold trading through the 3 dedicated commodities exchanges:

1. Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd.
2. National Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd.
3. National Commodity and Derivative Exchange

These three exchanges are present across the country and they offer electronic trading or settlement systems. These exchanges are governed by the Forward Markets Commission.

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Gold Futures Contracts on MCX

MCX India deals in the future trade of gold along with a wide range of different commodities. At present, MCX offers various gold future contracts alternative for the investors looking forward to an investment:

1. Gold - It has a trading unit of 1 kilogram and the maximum order size is 10 kilograms. The highest permissible open position for a person is higher of 5 metric tonnes for all the gold contracts coupled together or 5 percent of the market wide open position.
2. Gold mini - It has a trading unit of 100 grams and a maximum order size is 10 kilograms. The maximum permissible open position for a person and for a member dealing collectively with all the clients is same as that for Gold Futures Contracts.
3. Gold guinea - Every gold guinea contract constitutes of a smaller amount of 8 grams and it is targeted at people with a small capital base. Starting from a low amount, the maximum permissible open position is at metric tonne for all the gold contracts clubbed together or 5 percent of the market wide open position for the individual customers.
4. Gold petal - It involves only 1 gram of gold per unit as it is designed specifically for the small investors. The maximum permissible open position is same as the above contracts. One can buy up to 20,00,000 Gold Petal Contracts.
5. Gold global - It’s a contract based on the international price that designed particularly for the requirements of exporters, jewellers, refiners, and larger bullion market participants. It is a new product from MCX which was launched in July 2015.

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How to Sell Gold in India?

Before you sell your gold, you need to keep a few pointers in your mind so that you get best of the best deal.

1. Retain invoice: In order to be eligible to sell your gold to a reputed jeweller and getting the maximum value from your investment, you must keep the original invoice with you.
2. Get it evaluated: Before you sell your gold, make sure you get its value checked twice or thrice so that nobody can cheat you.
3. Check the purity of gold: Before you sell your gold, it’s important that you get it hallmarked. In case your jewellery isn’t hallmarked then get its purity checked. Also, compare the purity and price with Gold Rate Today to get an idea of the price you may be offered in exchange.
4. Pick a trusted shop: Make sure that you sell your jewellery at a reputed store so that you get a fair price. 

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How to Check Purity of Gold

There are multiple ways to check the purity of gold.

1. Look for the Hallmark Stamp: Pure gold always carries a stamp. Reputed stores stamp the jewellery with purity scale. To check the purity of your gold, simply place it under the magnifying glass and check for the hallmark stamp.
2. BIS Standard Mark: BIS is used as a benchmark stamp for the purity of gold. Every legal jewellery item will carry this stamp on it.
3. If there is Any Discolouration: You can check the purity of your gold by noticing any discolouration or not. If your piece is only gold plated, it will start showing a different metal under it and colour will be faded.
4. Try with a Magnet: We are aware the fact that gold is non-magnetic. So, if it pulls towards the magnet, it’s not real. However, it never shows 100% result, as sometimes non-magnetic metals are used with pure gold as well. To perform this test you will require a strong magnet that you may find in a hardware store or in regular things such as purse latches, old unused hard drive or children’s toys.

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Gold Weight Conversion Table

To convert from	To	Multiply by
Tonnes	Troy ounces	32150.7
Troy ounces	Grains	480
Kilograms	Tolas	85.755
Kilograms	Bahts	68.41
Kilograms	Troy ounces	32.1507
Troy ounces	Grams	31.1035
Million ounces	Tonnes	31.1035
Kilograms	Taels	26.7172
Troy ounces	Penny weights	20
Troy ounces	Avoirdupois ounces	1.09714
Avoirdupois ounces	Troy ounces	0.911458
Short tonne	Metric tonne	0.9072
Grams	Troy ounces	0.0321507

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FAQs

• Q. Why Gold Rates Differ in Several States in India?

  • Gold rates are determined by international gold rates and ideally, it should be the same across the country. But it is not the case. You find a different rate for gold in Mumbai than Chennai or Delhi. There are certain variables that determine gold rates in each state of India. The list includes:

    Gold Rate Today: The gold price today affects the rise or decrease in gold prices over the country.

    Hauling Expense: As an expensive item, the transportation cost of gold is slightly expensive owing to the safety reason. This cost is added to the main selling cost, which may vary from state to state.
    
    Gold Association: Every jeweller belongs to a defined Gold Association which regulates all terms and conditions related to gold. For instance, Mumbai gold price is decided by ‘Mumbai Bullion Association Ltd’. Likewise, in Chennai, all jewellers are the members of ‘Madras Jewellers and Diamonds Merchant’s Association’, which decides gold rates.
    
    Import Duty Imposed by the State Government: Our government plays a vital role in determining the gold price. The govt. of India not only imposes tax rates but also the import duty rates. India doesn’t directly mine gold and imports from different countries, where the import rates, which is based on the deficit, plays an important role in fixing of retail segment rates. If there is a shortage or deficit, the import duty rises correspondingly, and vice-versa.

• Q. Is Inflation one of the Top Determinants of the Price of Gold in India?

  • No, inflation isn’t a major determinant of current gold rate in India. There are people who would argue that gold prices rise with inflation, but the truth is, gold rates weaken when inflation gets stronger. For instance, when inflation hikes in the US, the gold rates fall. As the Federal Reserve of US hikes the rate of interest, it leads to a massive trade of gold. Hence, an increase in the rate of interest leads to a rush to sell off gold.
    
    The determining force for the price of gold in India in the previous year was the direction of the rate of interest in the US. However, the inflation in our country isn’t a big determinant of gold rates worldwide. Global inflation is of utmost importance due to various reasons. The first reason is that inflation rise is equivalent to a rise in interest rates. It leads to a hike in rate of interest, and eventually, gold rates are affected.

• Q. What is the Current Gold Import Duty?

  • Presently, the gold import duty is 10%. The government alters the import duty on a regular basis as it needs to handle imports.
    Tackling the gold imports and avoiding a strain on the present account deficit is the need of the hour. Any restriction is likely to have an impact on the overall gold consumption of our country. And India is the top-most gold consumer in the world.
    
    The last time the government hiked the gold import duty, some consumer resentment was reported. Though it can’t be said if import duty hike would become a regular norm, it certainly is a possibility.
    
    Whatever the case is, hiking the gold import duties would make India gold price costlier. For obvious reasons, it is a bad news for consumers as well as jewelry sellers. The principle of demand and supply is at work here. When demand falls, these jewelry sellers are the worst affected. If you’re looking to purchase the yellow metal, do it whenever the import-duty decreases.
    
    At the moment, it is difficult to predict whether the duty will decrease, since a change in import duties of gold is impacted by a wide range of factors including the rise and fall of gold rate in India. In case the rate is too high, the concerned government department would intervene and cut the import duties to regulate gold rates. On the contrary, if the prices are too low then the concerned government department might hike the duty of the shining metal.

• Q. Why is it Important to Checking Gold Rates Today?

  • Checking price of gold today is crucial for a simple reason- gold isn’t the commodity it once used to be. As a matter of fact, gold prices today are way too different from the price of gold 10 years ago. Today, even a minor variation in rates can trigger big losses. It’s, therefore, significant to cross-check gold prices before buying. Also, it’s important to compare the yellow metal’s price with different jewelers. The rates in a few cities are formulated by the jewelers’ association so the rate is announced accordingly. Yet, it’s normal to find a price variation between local goldsmiths. Having said that, some highly reputed jewellers might ask for a higher making-charge.
    
    If you are sure that the making charges of a particular jeweler are significantly high, it's recommended to have a look around to get a decent rate. After all, it’s better to compare instead of paying a big amount.

• Q. When is the Perfect Time to Purchase Gold in India?

  • In India, you can purchase gold anytime at your whim. Though, investors best be extra-cautious. Over the past few years, the shining metal didn’t fetch fabulous returns. It’s best to purchase gold only for the purpose of diversification.
    
    Like equities, real estate etc., if any asset class drops, the gold price is likely to rally up. It’s because the yellow metal is regarded as a “safe haven asset”. However, don’t invest your entire capital in gold and minimize the risk by investing in various asset classes. Whatever be the purpose of your purchase, buy gold in a planned and systematic way.

• Q. Are Jewelers Gold Schemes Worth Investing in?

  • It’s worth putting money in gold schemes of various jewelers simply because it is easier, systematic and well-planned. Individuals resort to this option when they have to accumulate gold for a special occasion like marriage.
    
    Earlier, city jewelers formulated a plan where you had to pay 10 installments while the jeweler paid one and in the end, you could purchase gold jewelry worth the aggregate of these 11 installments. But, city jewelers have altered their schemes because the interest rate is falling these days. These gold schemes aren’t as beneficial as they once were. Yet, for the purpose of gold accumulation for important occasions, it is still a perfect fit.
    
    Some jewelers offer discounts on gold making charges, but only if you invest in their gold schemes.

• Q. Is there any Difference between Carat and Karat?

  • Carat and Karat both are used to measure, but yes, they are completely different things. Carat is used to measure Diamonds while Karat measures the purity of Gold. One carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams and same as 0.2 grams.
    
    While Karat signifies the purity of gold, you’ll find various jewellery forms referred to as 24-karat, 22-karat, 14-karat or 18-karat gold. It is believed that higher the karat, higher the chances of pure gold.

• Q. How 18K, 22k and 24k Gold is Different from Each Other?

  • All 18k, 24k and 22k gold signify the purity of gold. 18Kgold is 75% pure gold and 25% is alloyed with other metals like silver or copper. 18k gold is being used in studded or diamond jewellery. It is less expensive than 22k or 24k gold.
    
    22K gold is mostly used in jewellery making. It is 91.67% is pure gold and remaining percentage is a combination of metals like nickel, zinc or other alloys. Jewellery made of this gold is durable as the mixture of other metals makes the texture of gold harder.
    
    24K is the purest gold hence it is 100% gold. It is 99.9% pure and doesn’t blend with any other metal. Owing to its purity, this gold is expensive than the rest. However, it is lower in density.

• Q. Why we Worship this Yellow Metal Called ‘Gold’

  • We guess below points are enough to justify its value:
    1. Its natural beauty and colour attract most of the people
    2. It is easier to make jewellery or ornaments out of it
    3. It is non-allergic. If you have a gold piece touching your body all the time like a gold chain or earring- there will be no reaction, unlike other metals. Even wearing gold has its own health benefits.
    4. In the ancient times, it was considered as rare metal and so precious.
    5. It is less affected by climate. You may notice many temples in India, the rooftops are made with gold like Gurudwara Bangla Sahib in Delhi, Famous Shiva Temple in Sivasagar dist. of Assam and so on.
    6. In ancient times, making coins out of gold was easier. Gradually people started using other metals and found gold more reliable and valuable than the rest.
    7. Gold is a dense, shiny, ductile and malleable metal.

• Q. How much is one Tola Gold?

  • Tola is an ancient Indian unit to weight gold. 1 tola stands for 11.66 grams.

• Q. How is Gold Brought into India?

  • India has very small gold reserves and it is dependent totally on the commodities market across the globe to meet the demand for gold. The country’s central bank is responsible for the gold import and dividing it among the distributors so that it could be supplied to a large number of retailers or jewellery shops.

• Q. Why Gold Always Retains its Value?

  • Gold will retain its value in the future as it is the ultimate form of money. Irrespective of innumerable social, economic as well as political changes, individuals have valued gold since the civilization began.
    
    The value of gold hasn’t been zero and it hasn’t defrauded any investor ever. Human civilization acknowledges the value of gold since history has proven that it has zero risks.

• Q. How to Buy Gold Bullion?

  • Gold bullion, gold in the form of bars and coins can be purchased by any investor in India at jewellery shops and selected banks. For 24 karat gold bars, the denomination varies from 5 grams to 100 grams and these come with a purity certificate.
    
    The high investment volume and limited availability make the gold bars the most preferred choice for the investors. Although, gold bars aren’t accepted by NBFCs and banks as gold loan’s security.
    
    Gold Coins - These are more accessible and more common for the public. The purchase denomination varies from 2 grams to 50 grams for 24 karat gold coins. The traditional purchasing point for gold coins is jewellery shops and banks. Off late, people are buying gold coins online in India.
    
    Online portals like Snapdeal, FINCO India, and PN Gadgil, offer 24 karat BIS hallmark gold coins for online purchase. Various Indian banks offer gold loan using 24 karat gold coins up to 50 grams as collateral.
    
    Contracts - These alternatives give people a delayed access to the bullion. Spot contracts as well as future contracts are available from MCX, Bullion India, NCEDX, and RSBL. The spot contracts are subjected to the market risks and they’re delivered on an immediate basis. The future contracts come with the protection against various market risks but it comes with a delay in deliveries.

• Q. How much is an Ounce of Gold Worth Today?

  • An ounce is known as a troy ounce. It is a royal measure of gold which is equivalent to 31.1035 gms of gold. Since the gold rates change on a daily basis and it varies from one place to the other, the rate of an ounce of gold varies accordingly.
    
    For instance, if the gold price for today is Rupees 3,000 per gram, then, an ounce of gold will be worth Rupees 3,000 multiplied by 31.1035 which is Rs. 93,310.50. Although an ounce of gold’s worth can be slightly different, it will be dependent on the changes in the price of gold.

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