 "Gold demand rises ahead of festival")
Demand for gold in India, the world's biggest consumer of the precious metal, improved on Thursday as prices hovered near their lowest level in a week ahead of key festival Akshaya Tritiya.
The key June contract on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) was 0.5 per cent up at Rs 26,668 for 10 gm at 1053 GMT, after hitting a one-week low of Rs 26,365 late yesterday.
"Jewellers are making last-minute buying for Akshaya Tritiya. But some buyers are waiting for a bigger correction. They are waiting for prices to drop below Rs 26,000," said a Mumbai-based dealer with a private bullion importing bank.
The rupee, which plays an important role in determining the landed cost of the dollar-quoted yellow metal, eased on Thursday. Silver for May delivery on the MCX was 1.2 per cent higher at Rs 44,200 a kg.
In the foreign market, gold held near its weakest level in almost a week, after declines in holdings of exchange-traded funds, equities and other commodities overshadowed the US Federal Reserve's decision to maintain its loose monetary policy.
The key June contract on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) was 0.5 per cent up at Rs 26,668 for 10 gm at 1053 GMT, after hitting a one-week low of Rs 26,365 late yesterday.
"Jewellers are making last-minute buying for Akshaya Tritiya. But some buyers are waiting for a bigger correction. They are waiting for prices to drop below Rs 26,000," said a Mumbai-based dealer with a private bullion importing bank.
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Akshaya Tritiya is celebrated in the third week of May, a time considered auspicious to buy gold , while the current wedding season continues until July.
The rupee, which plays an important role in determining the landed cost of the dollar-quoted yellow metal, eased on Thursday. Silver for May delivery on the MCX was 1.2 per cent higher at Rs 44,200 a kg.
In the foreign market, gold held near its weakest level in almost a week, after declines in holdings of exchange-traded funds, equities and other commodities overshadowed the US Federal Reserve's decision to maintain its loose monetary policy.