What is the story about?
Gold Rate Today: Gold and silver prices ticked lower on Thursday (December 18) as investors booked profits following a rally in the previous session. As
of 9:55 am, gold prices edged down by 0.2 per cent, or Rs 288, to trade at Rs 1,34,606. Prices remain close to the record high of Rs 1,35,496. On the silver front, prices fell by 0.3 per cent, or Rs 668, to Rs 2,06,767, after hitting an all-time high of Rs 2,07,833 in the previous session. “Gold has seen a minor correction from its highs. Silver is outperforming. Most major triggers, such as trade deals between India and the US, have already been factored in. Therefore, the current small correction is expected,” said Manav Modi from Motilal Oswal.
Rupee movement supports gold prices
Limiting further downside, the rupee traded in a narrow range against the US dollar in early trade on Thursday. Earlier this week, the currency hit an all-time low of Rs 90.38 against the dollar.A weaker rupee boosts gold prices on MCX, as imports become costlier, increasing demand for domestic gold contracts.
Geopolitical factors add safe-haven demand
On the geopolitical front, former US President Donald Trump ordered a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, in a move to increase pressure on President Nicolas Maduro's government. This has added to safe-haven demand for gold.Gold is considered a safe-haven asset because investors flock to it during periods of economic uncertainty, inflation, or market volatility, preserving wealth when other assets may lose value.
Gold and silver outlook
Analyst Bhupesh Sharma told ET Now Swadesh, “If we talk about gold and silver fundamentals, in trades like the carry trade, any change in interest rates by 25 basis points, or an increase of 50 basis points, could lead to profit-taking in gold and silver. Other than that, most news impacting fundamentals has already been priced into the market.”High interest rates raise the cost of holding non-yielding assets like gold, often leading to weaker gold prices as investors prefer interest-bearing instruments.
Manav Modi expects that in 12–18 months, silver could reach USD 75–77 in the international market if supply tightness, industrial demand, and safe-haven demand continue.
Unlike gold, silver is both a precious and an industrial metal, widely used in electronics, solar panels, batteries, and medical applications due to its excellent conductivity and antimicrobial properties.
City-wise gold prices (24 carat)
| City Name | Prices/10g (24 carat) |
| Chennai | 1,34,710 |
| Bangalore | 1,34,740 |
| Hyderabad | 1,34,670 |
| Mumbai | 1,34,660 |
| Kolkata | 1,34,640 |
| Pune | 1,34,660 |
| Chandigarh | 1,34,740 |
| Delhi | 1,35,400 |
| Noida | 1,34,810 |
| Gurgaon | 1,34,800 |
