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Dhanteras 2025: Gold Buying Kicks Off, Record Prices May Hit Volumes By 15%
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Dhanteras, the most auspicious day in the Hindu calendar for buying items ranging from precious metals to utensils, is being celebrated over two days until 1.45 pm on Sunday.
Gold prices have surged 65 per cent to Rs 1,34,800 per 10 grams of 24 karat, inclusive of all taxes, in the national capital, compared with Rs 81,400 on Dhanteras last year.
Gold and silver buying on the auspicious occasion of Dhanteras kicked off on Saturday with jewellers expecting higher footfalls, though record high prices of the yellow metal could dampen demand by 15 per cent in volume terms compared with a year earlier.
Dhanteras, the most auspicious day in the Hindu calendar for buying items ranging from precious metals to utensils, is being celebrated over two days until 1.45 pm on Sunday, with jewellers expecting more footfalls in both online and offline stores.
Gold prices have surged 65 per cent to Rs 1,34,800 per 10 grams of 24 karat, inclusive of all taxes, in the national capital, compared with Rs 81,400 on Dhanteras last year, which was celebrated on October 29, 2024.
Silver prices are currently at Rs 1,77,000 per kilogram.
“We are expecting the momentum to pick up after the muhurat time. Since the festival falls on a weekend we have geared up for a robust Dhanteras,” All India Gem And Jewellery Domestic Council (GJC) Chairman Rajesh Rokde told PTI.
GJC expects gold sales to increase by 40-45 per cent in value terms on a year-on-year basis, he said.
Suvankar Sen, Managing Director and chief executive of Senco Gold and Diamonds, said high prices will affect sale volumes by 12-15 per cent, but in value terms there will be growth of 20-25 per cent on Dhanteras.
While some consumers are still buying gold jewellery even at high rates, many are shifting towards silver buying, especially bullion.
Saiyam Mehra, former chairman of GJC, said volume-wise, gold jewellery sales are expected to witness a decline of 10 per cent on Dhanteras.
He said silver prices surged due to scarcity of the white metal since last month because of a ban on imports of jewellery, though silver prices have now started seeing a correction.
Sachin Jain, regional CEO for India at the World Gold Council, said Dhanteras and Diwali are the top gold-buying occasions in India.
“Despite gold prices reaching multiple historic highs through 2025, witnessing an approximate 51.2 per cent year-to-date increase in rupee prices by end-September, consumer sentiment and demand for the yellow metal have been positive,” he said.
Retailers, who had been cautious about their inventories in recent months, are now well-stocked and optimistic, with seasonal and wedding-related demand further fuelling purchases, suggesting a vibrant festive season for gold sales.
Consumer buying is expected to be strong across various gold purchases, from higher caratage gold jewellery to investment products like digital gold, coins and ETFs.
“This positive outlook is strongly supported by India registering positive gold ETF flows of USD 902 million in September, along with overall gold imports reaching a nine-month high in August 2025,” Jain said, adding that gold demand is expected to continue through the Diwali period and until the end of the year due to the wedding season.
Kam Jewelry Managing Director Colin Shah said while demand dynamics are likely to remain consistent, consumer preferences are rapidly shifting toward lightweight jewellery.
“The festive season is expected to see a significant surge in demand for jewellery in the 9 to 18 carat segment. … we foresee a festive surge of 18-20 per cent in overall sales,” Shah said.
India is the world’s second-largest gold consumer and one of the largest importers globally, after China.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)
October 18, 2025, 15:37 IST
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On International Women’s Day 2026, Equirus Wealth reports Indian women investors’ shift from fixed deposits and gold to equity mutual funds.
Women investors are steadily reshaping India’s financial landscape, with rising participation in stocks, mutual funds, and digital investing platforms.
On International Women’s Day 2026, a key trend of behavior change among female investors has emerged over the past five years, particularly in their investment choices across various financial products. Women are now more confident while investing in high risk but rewarding equity market, as the portfolio allocation in equity mutual funds surged from 10 per cent to 32 per cent, while down from 40 per cent to 20 per cent in Fixed Deposits (FDs).
The five-year study on women investors and relationship managers was conducted by Equirus Wealth Limited, and was published in a report titled “Expanding Horizons: Changing Wealth Management Behaviours of Indian Women – Qualitative Analysis of Investor Evolution Across Age and Affluence.”
The study reveals that women investors are increasingly moving away from episodic product purchases such as fixed deposits, gold and property towards diversified, allocation-driven portfolios anchored around long-term financial goals.
This reflects the major behavioural change from ‘safety-first’ investing to allocation-driven portfolio strategies.
Female Investors Adopting AI Cautiously
According to the report ,Artificial Intelligence may dominate global investment conversations, but Indian women investors are adopting it cautiously. They are using AI primarily as research and learning tool rather than for autonomous investment decisions.
Not Panicking During Corrections
Another interesting thing being revealed by the study is that 70-90% of investors hold or review their investments during market corrections rather than exiting in panic, showing maturity during market cycles.
At the same time, around 55% selectively add capital during market dips, reflecting growing conviction and a longer-term approach to investing.
Rise of “bucket investing”
Investors are increasingly dividing portfolios into buckets like safety, growth, liquidity and legacy instead of buying random financial products.
Risk is no longer seen only as loss of capital.
Investors now also consider inflation, goal failure, and portfolio drawdowns as risks.
75–90% are discussing intergenerational wealth transfer and financial discipline for the next generation.
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March 08, 2026, 14:14 IST
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Gold is sold at a discount in Dubai due to Middle East conflict disrupting flights. Traders offer up to $30 per ounce less than London prices.
Dubai Gold Selling Cheaper As Iran War Grounds Flights
Gold is being sold at a discount in Dubai as the widening conflict in the Middle East disrupts flights and hampers the movement of bullion from one of the world’s key trading hubs.
According to a Bloomberg report, traders in Dubai are offering discounts of up to $30 per ounce compared to the global benchmark price in London. The unusual price cut comes as shipments remain stranded due to flight disruptions triggered by the escalating conflict involving Iran and Israel.
Dubai is a key global centre for refining and exporting gold to markets across Asia, including India. However, partial airspace restrictions and heightened security risks have slowed the movement of bullion out of the region.
Why Gold Is Being Sold Cheaper
Gold is typically transported in the cargo holds of passenger aircraft. With several flights from the UAE restricted amid regional tensions, traders are struggling to move bullion to international markets.
At the same time, insurance and freight costs have surged, making shipments more expensive and uncertain. Many buyers have therefore stepped back from placing new orders, unwilling to bear high logistics costs without assurance of timely delivery.
To avoid paying prolonged storage and financing costs while shipments remain stuck, some traders are offering gold at discounted prices.
Although transporting bullion by road to airports in neighbouring countries such as Saudi Arabia or Oman is theoretically possible, logistics firms are reluctant due to the risks and complications of moving high-value cargo across land borders during a conflict.
What It Means For India
India, one of the largest buyers of gold shipped from Dubai, could face short-term supply disruptions if the situation continues.
Renisha Chainani, head of research at Augmont Enterprises Ltd., said several cargo shipments have already been delayed, creating temporary tightness in the availability of physical bullion in India.
However, industry experts as reported by Bloomberg say the immediate impact may remain limited as domestic inventories are currently comfortable after heavy imports earlier this year.
Chirag Sheth, principal consultant for South Asia at Metals Focus, said Bloomberg that India has ample stocks for now, but warned that prolonged disruptions could eventually affect supply if the conflict continues for several months.
Meanwhile, global gold prices have surged this year amid geopolitical uncertainty, with spot gold recently trading above $5,000 per ounce.
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March 08, 2026, 10:03 IST
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Some seven in 10 British adults without a full driving licence say learning to drive is currently unaffordable, according to a survey.
The figure is even higher among younger people, with 76% of 18 to 29-year-olds without a licence saying driving lessons are financially out of reach, the poll for car insurer Prima found.
Overall, 38% said the cost of driving lessons was the biggest deterrent to learning to drive.
Some 32% were put off by the price of buying a car and 15% said the cost of car insurance was the main barrier to learning to drive.
Almost half (45%) said they would consider learning to drive if it became significantly cheaper.
Nick Ielpo, UK country manager at Prima, said: “For a growing number of people, driving is no longer a symbol of freedom – it’s a financial stretch too far.
“Between lessons, buying a car and insuring it, the upfront and ongoing costs are pricing many people out before they even start.”
Find Out Now surveyed 1,134 adults who do not hold a full driving licence between January 21 and 23.
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