Gold

Demand shot to an 11-year high in 2022 thanks to the biggest central bank on record. Gold prices, meanwhile, are near record highs above $2,000 an ounce

Global gold demand grews 18% annually in 2022, highest since 2011: WGC

Global gold demand grew 18 per cent annually to touch 4,741 tonnes in 2022, the highest since 2011, mainly driven by strong quarter four (October-December) demand and hefty central bank-buying, the World Gold Council (WGC) said in a report on Tuesday.
The total demand during 2021 was 4,012.8 tonnes, according to WGC's annual 'Gold Demand Trends' report.
Annual central bank demand more than doubled to 1,136 tonnes in 2022, up from 450 tonnes in the previous year and to a new 55-year high.
Purchases in the fourth quarter last year alone reached 417 tonnes, bringing the total for the second half of 2022 to more than 800 tonnes, the report stated.
Investment demand (excluding over the counter) in 2022 was up 10 per cent against the previous year, mainly due to a notable slowdown in exchange-traded fund (ETF) outflows and strong gold bar and coin demand.
Gold bars and coins continued to hold favour with investors in several countries, which helped to offset weakness in China.
Total ..

gold

According to the WGC 'Gold Demand Trends Q1 2022' report, global gold demand surged to 1,234 tonnes during the January-March quarter supported by strong demand for electronic traded funds (ETFs)

Spot gold was steady at $1,895.43 per ounce by 0731 GMT, after scaling to its highest since June 1 at $1,913.89 per ounce in volatile trade on Tuesday. U.S. gold futures GCv1 shed 0.4% to $1,899.70

Spot gold was up 0.2% at $1,909.86 per ounce by 0558 GMT, after scaling its highest since June 1 at $1,913.89 per ounce earlier. U.S. gold futures GCv1 gained 0.7% to $1,912.20

Spot gold XAU= was up 0.1% at $1,826.76 per ounce, as of 0725 GMT, holding near previous session's high of $1,828.68, the strongest level since Jan. 26

chart

Gold prices firmed on Tuesday as Russia-Ukraine concerns kept the safe-haven metal supported near the previous session's over one-week high

Somasundaram PR on how gold demand will pan out in 2022

The demand for gold jewellery hit a six-year high in 2021. Business Standard caught up with Somasundaram PR, Regional CEO, India, World Gold Council, to understand how the demand may pan out in 2022

The total demand stood at 894.4 tonnes during the third quarter of 2020, WGC's Q3 Gold Demand Trends 2021 report said on Thursday.

However, demand from jewellers and central banks was solid

Demand for gold in India jumped 19.2 per cent in the April - June 2021 quarter to 76.1 tonnes, suggests the latest report from World Gold Council (WGC)

A report by World Gold Council (WGC) said that inflows into North American and Asian funds were primarily offset by outflows from European funds.

People purchasing Gold Jewellery at UTZ Jewellery Shop. Photo: Kamlesh Pednekar

Gold is the third-most popular investment choice, with 46% of all global retail investors choosing gold products - next only to saving accounts (78%) and life insurance (54%)

gold jewellery

HDFC Securities Senior Analyst (Commodities) Tapan Patel said spot gold prices for 24 Karat in Delhi were trading up by Rs 118 with recovery in global gold prices and sharp rupee depreciation.

Gold demand leaps to three-year high as prices surge: WGC

The world's appetite for gold was 2,182 tonnes over January-June, up from 2,021 tonnes in the same period of 2018, according to the WGC

gold, jewellery

The total jewellery demand grew by 4 per cent (82 tonne) to 2,136 tonne from 2,054 tonne in the same period last year

Overseas institutions are also a better bet for Adani. Tapping Indian banks, especially state-run lenders, would be a tad cheaper, but might invite greater political scrutiny ahead of general election

Adani, Adani Group

Adani Group on Thursday bagged two contracts worth Rs 13,888 crore from a state-owned discom to install smart meters.
A total of six tenders were awarded by the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) to install smart meters, of which two have been bagged by the Adani Group, according to an official communiqu from the discom seen by PTI.
The diversified group, which has a sizeable presence in the power sector and had recently won a Rs 1,000 crore contract to install smart meters in the area serviced by BEST Undertaking in Mumbai, will act as an advanced metering infrastructure service provider for smart prepaid metering in MSEDCL, it said.
The two zones awarded to Adani include Bhandup, Kalyan and Konkan having 63.44 lakh meters, and Baramati and Pune having 52.45 lakh meters, it said.
Letter of Awards have been issued to the successful firms, as per the communiqu.
Officials from Adani Group were not immediately available for comment.
The group's transmiss

Closing Bell on Thursday, September 21: The broad-based selling was led by public sector banks with the Nifty PSU Bank index sliding 2.3 per cent

bear market, sensex, nifty, loss, growth, investment

Tensions have been high since Canadian PM Trudeau on Monday alleged that the Indian government was behind the fatal shooting of Hardeep Singh Nijjar

visa, Canada

Catch all the latest updates from across the globe here

Manipur

Here is the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for today

Democracy

Canada said it was expelling a top Indian diplomat Monday as it investigates what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called credible allegations that India's government may have had links to the assassination in Canada of a Sikh activist.
Trudeau said in Parliament that Canadian intelligence agencies have been looking into the allegations after Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a strong supporter of an independent Sikh homeland known as Khalistan, was gunned down on June 18 outside a Sikh cultural centre in Surrey, British Columbia.
Trudeau told Parliament that he brought up the slaying with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G-20 last week, that he told Modi that any Indian government involvement would be unacceptable and that he asked for cooperation in the investigation.
Canadian Foreign Minister Mlanie Joly said the head of Indian intelligence in Canada has been expelled as a consequence. "If proven true this would be a great violation of our sovereignty and of the most basic

Hardeep Singh Nijjar

No injury or loss of life was reported in the incident, Srinagar Police informed further, adding that the terrorist fled the spot after opening fire at the CRPF vehicle

Gun shooting, mass shooting

Delhi government has targeted to raise the number of registered construction workers in the city to 15 lakh this year and increase spending on various welfare schemes for them by 20 times, officials said on Monday.
The move comes in the wake of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal earlier this year expressing dissatisfaction over less number of registration of workers and emphasising to increase it further.
As per official data, the number of registered workers was 13 lakh by end of 2022-23.
The Delhi government will also raise spending on welfare schemes meant for construction workers to Rs 246 crore this year, up from 12.66 crore last year, officials said.
Last year over 4,500 applications were received from registered construction workers for various welfare schemes run by Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board.
Out of which, just over 2,000 were processed for benefits of different schemes with an expenditure of Rs 12.66 crore, a labour department officer said.


Highway labourer at par with construction worker after new wage norms

Nijjar, who was wanted in India, was gunned down outside a gurdwara, in a parking area in Canada's Surrey, BC on June 18

Justin Trudeau

The government introduced the Women's Reservation Bill in the Parliament almost three decades after it was first drafted

Parliament

The fiscal burden of states will increase over time

pensions, funds, retirement, investments, investors, savings

Former RBI Governor Bimal Jalan said it is better if the person's expertise is considered than whether he/she is a bureaucrat or a private sector executive

TRAI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins Whatsapp Channel following conclusion of the first day in the new parliament building

PM Modi on Whatsapp Channels (Photo: Whatsapp)

Canada identifies expelled Indian diplomat as RAW station chief in Ottawa, sources say Canadian diplomat expelled from Delhi is intelligence officer

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

More than 10 people were injured when Manipur security forces fired tear gas shells on protesters for trying to storm police stations and court arrest demanding the unconditional release of the five arrested youths on Thursday.
As a precautionary measure, the state government cancelled curfew relaxations in the twin districts of Imphal from 5pm, officials said.
Responding to a call by six local clubs and Meira Paibis demanding the release of the five village volunteers, hundreds of protesters holding placards and shouting slogans tried to enter the Porompat police station in Imphal East and Singjamei police station and Kwakeithel police outpost in Imphal West district.
However, police and RAF personnel deployed at strategic positions fired several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.
A protester, identified as Th Bimola at Porompat said, "We were left with no option but to court arrest as the government failed to release the five village volunteers. If such village ...

The Information and Broadcasting Ministry on Thursday advised TV news channels to refrain from giving platform to those belonging to proscribed organisations or facing charges of terrorism and serious crimes.
In an advisory to all private satellite TV channels, the ministry said it has come to its notice that "a person" in a foreign country who faces serious cases of crime including terrorism was invited for a discussion on a television channel.
During the discussion, the person made several remarks detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of India, its security and friendly relations with a foreign state, the ministry said, without naming the person or the news channel.
The remarks of the person also had the potential of disturbing public order in the country, the ministry added.
While the government upholds media freedom and respects its rights under the Constitution, the content telecast by the TV channels must adhere to the provisions of the Cable Television Networks ...

TRP, tv news channels, viewership, media, entertainment, OTT

In a step towards enhancing last-mile connectivity with public transportation, Delhi govt has invited proposals for the deployment of 3,000 high-speed e-scooters, low-speed e-scooters, and e-cycles

Fire-safety norms for Li-ion battery could push up e-scooter prices by 10%

electric scooters, e-scooters, EV, Electric vehicles

DLF's rental arm DCCDL has raised Rs 1,100 crore through issuance of non-convertible debentures on a private placement basis.
In a regulatory filing on Thursday, DLF informed that the DLF Cyber City Developers Ltd (DCCDL) board has approved the allotment of debentures.
DCCDL said that the securities allotment committee of the Board of Directors has approved the allotment of 1,10,000 senior, listed, rated, secured, redeemable, transferable, rupee-denominated NCDs (Non Convertible Debentures) of the face value of 1 lakh each on a private placement basis to eligible investor(s).
The size of the issue is Rs 1,100 crore. These NCDs will be listed on the BSE. The coupon rate is 8.25 per cent per annum. The maturity is August 17, 2033.
DCCDL is a joint venture between DLF and Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC.
DLF holds a 66.67 per cent stake while the GIC has a 33.33 per cent stake in the DCCDL.
DLF holds the bulk of its rental assets (offices and shopping malls) through DCCDL.  DCCD

More than five lakh Ayushman Bharat beneficiary cards have been made in just four days since the launch of the Ayushman Bhav campaign, Union Health Secretary Sudhansh Pant said on Thursday.
He further said that more than 20 lakh ABHA IDs have been generated while footfall of more than 20 lakh have been registered at the Ayushman Bharat-Health and Wellness Centres and Community Health Centres for availing free treatment and screening services, he said.
The Ayushman Bhav campaign, launched on September 14 by President Droupadi Murmu, is a comprehensive nationwide healthcare initiative that aims to provide saturation coverage of healthcare services in every village and town in the country.
It is being implemented during the 'Seva Pakhwada' (fortnight of service) which began on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday on September 17 and will continue till October 2.
The three components of the Ayushman Bhav campaign -- Ayushman - Apke Dwar 3.0, Ayushman Melas at Health and Wellness ...

This revised health benefit package is expected to be rolled out from November this year, the health ministry said

Heatmap

Global gold demand

Global gold demand fell in 1st quarter amid reduced investor buying: WGC

Global gold demand grows 18% annually in 2022, highest since 2011: WGC

Global gold demand up 34% in March qtr amid geopolitical uncertainty: WGC

Gold prices flat at near $1,900 as higher US yields counter safe-haven bids

Gold prices near nine-month high as Russia-Ukraine crisis deepens

Gold near 2-week high as inflation risks buoy appeal

Gold firms near 1-week high as political risks buoy demand

Somasundaram PR on how gold demand will pan out in 2022

Global Q3 gold demand down 7% at 831 tonnes ETF outflows: WGC

Gold demand fell in the third quarter as big investors sold, says WGC

Attractive stock markets may keep investors away from gold: Analysts

Flows into global gold ETFs were mostly flat in June at 2.9 tonne

No dearth of gold demand, but more trust and awareness needed: WGC survey

Gold price rises Rs 118 at Rs 38,678 per 10 g on global cues, weaker rupee

Global gold demand surges 8% to three-year high as prices rally: WGC report

Global gold demand dips 7% but jewellery demand up: World Gold Council