Tracking record global prices, gold on Thursday soared to a fresh life-time high of Rs. 32,300 per ten grams here, amid rising local demand ahead of the marriage and festival season.
Rallying for the third consecutive day, gold prices crossed the Rs. 32,000-level in New Delhi. In Mumbai, the rates jumped by Rs. 220 at Rs 31,700.
In other metros, gold gained in the Rs. 175-275 range with prices in Kolkata reaching Rs. 32,175 while the rates stood at Rs 31,960 in Chennai. In the last three days, gold in New Delhi became costlier by Rs. 690, while it gained Rs 1,555 in the last two weeks.
Market participants attributed the sharp rise to firming global rates as dollar weakened. Global prices on Thursday rose one per cent to $1,709.90 an ounce in London, matching a level last seen on March 13. Meanwhile in the futures markets, gold hit a new record high of Rs. 32,758 per 10 grams.