Kamal Ghorui
Silver prices fell by Rs 2,000 to Rs 2.40 lakh per kilogram, while gold declined by Rs 600 to Rs 1.53 lakh per 10 grams in the national capital on Tuesday as investors turned cautious ahead of US President Donald Trump’s deadline to Iran over reopening the Strait of Hormuz.According to the All India Sarafa Association, silver dropped Rs 2,000, or nearly 1 per cent, to Rs 2,40,000 per kg (inclusive of all taxes), down from Monday’s closing level of Rs 2,42,000 per kg.Gold of 99.9 per cent purity also fell Rs 600, or 0.4 per cent, to Rs 1,53,200 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes), after settling at Rs 1,53,800 per 10 grams in the previous session.
Analysts link pressure on bullion to Trump warning, rising fears of escalation
“Gold prices came under pressure after Trump issued a new ultimatum to Iran and warned of fresh military strikes on power plants and other civilian infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened, setting a deadline for Tuesday,” Saumil Gandhi, senior analyst of commodities at HDFC Securities, said, according to news agency PTI.Tehran rejected the ultimatum and continued attacks on energy assets across the Middle East, keeping traders on edge.The tension escalated further after Trump said in a Truth Social post that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran does not strike a deal, adding to fears of possible military escalation.
Global gold edges higher, but dollar strength and oil gains cap upside
In the international market, spot gold was trading slightly higher at $4,659.16 an ounce, while spot silver slipped nearly 1 per cent to $72.14 an ounce, reflecting cautious sentiment overseas.While US gold futures were down 0.1 per cent at $4,680.50.“We’re coming off the Easter period, so liquidity is just coming back into trading on renewed dip buying,” commodity strategist Nitesh Shah of WisdomTree told Reuters.However, he added that “dollar strength and bond market pressure are acting as a headwind on gold prices.”The US dollar remained firm, making gold more expensive for holders of other currencies, while benchmark US 10-year Treasury yields also stayed elevated.
Crude jumps as markets watch Hormuz, analysts expect volatility ahead
The geopolitical standoff also pushed oil prices higher. West Texas Intermediate rose 3.08 per cent to $115.87 per barrel, while Brent crude gained 1 per cent to $110.80 per barrel in New York.Iran’s Revolutionary Guard warned that “restraint is over”, threatening disruption to regional oil and gas supplies, as Israel struck sites in Iran ahead of Trump’s Tuesday deadline.“Confusion surrounding (mediation) between the US and Iran is keeping both bulls and bears in check for now, hence the trading in a tight range over the last two weeks,” Zain Vawda, analyst at MarketPulse by OANDA said, as quoted by Reuters.Analysts expect bullion prices to remain volatile in the near term as investors track developments in West Asia, crude oil movements and upcoming US macroeconomic data for fresh direction.
