New Delhi, 23 April (H.S.):

Bullion dealers across India reported a continued softening in gold prices on Thursday, marking the fourth consecutive day of weakness in the sarrafa (jewellery) market, while silver rates remained unchanged, reflecting a pause in the white metal’s recent volatility.

According to local trade data, 24‑carat gold is currently trading in a band of ₹1,54,740 to ₹1,55,450 per 10 grams in most major cities, down slightly from the previous session amid a broader correction in global bullion markets. The weaker tone coincides with stabilising international gold benchmarks and a firmer rupee against the dollar, which tend to cap domestic premiums.

In the national capital, 24‑carat gold is quoted at ₹1,54,890 per 10 grams, with 22‑carat gold trading at ₹1,41,990 per 10 grams. Mumbai, regarded as the country’s financial hub, sees 24‑carat gold at ₹1,54,740 per 10 grams and 22‑carat at ₹1,41,840 per 10 grams, mirroring the muted trend seen in western India.

In Ahmedabad, 24‑carat gold is quoted at ₹1,54,790 per 10 grams and 22‑carat at ₹1,41,890 per 10 grams, while Chennai witnesses slightly higher premiums, with 24‑carat around ₹1,55,450 per 10 grams and 22‑carat near ₹1,42,490 per 10 grams. Kolkata posts 24‑carat at ₹1,54,740 per 10 grams and 22‑carat at ₹1,41,840 per 10 grams, keeping pace with the national average.

Other key centres follow a similar pattern. Bhopal quotes 24‑carat gold at ₹1,54,790 per 10 grams and 22‑carat at ₹1,41,890 per 10 grams, while Lucknow sees 24‑carat at ₹1,54,890 per 10 grams and 22‑carat at ₹1,41,990 per 10 grams. Patna posts 24‑carat at ₹1,54,790 per 10 grams and 22‑carat at ₹1,41,890 per 10 grams, and Jaipur quotes 24‑carat at ₹1,54,890 per 10 grams and 22‑carat at ₹1,41,990 per 10 grams.

In southern states, jewellery hubs such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Bhubaneswar are also witnessing a downbeat bias in gold. In these cities, 24‑carat gold is trading at ₹1,54,740 per 10 grams, and 22‑carat at ₹1,41,840 per 10 grams, broadly in line with Mumbai and Kolkata benchmarks.

Silver, by contrast, has held its ground. In Delhi’s sarrafa market, silver continues to trade at Wednesday’s closing level of ₹2,64,900 per kilogram, reflecting limited fresh movement in global futures and a stable rupee‑dollar dynamic. The white metal’s price per gram remains effectively unchanged at ₹264.90, indicating that traders are refraining from aggressive repricing ahead of upcoming global data releases and central‑bank cues.

Market analysts say the softness in gold may encourage modest buying from jewellery retailers and small investors, especially with the upcoming wedding season in the northern states, but caution that any fresh upside would depend on renewed safe‑haven demand driven by geopolitical developments and inflation outlooks. Silver’s stability, they add, suggests that the immediate pressure on the metal has eased, at least for now.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar