Gold climbed Rs 30 to cross the Rs 17,000 level at the bullion markets today amid persistent demand from stockists and jewellers.
Standard gold (99.5 purity) finished the day at Rs 17,025 per 10 grams from Thursday's close of Rs 16,995. Pure gold (99.9 purity) was up by Rs 25 at Rs 17,110.
Gold had last touched Rs 17,000 on March 4.
Silver also shot up on the back of hectic buying from stockists and speculators.
Silver ready (.999 fineness) was up by Rs 500 per kg to close at Rs 28,760.
In London, spot gold bid at $1,174.55 an ounce in early trade as against $1,166.10 in New York on Thursday.
US gold futures for June delivery rose by $7.30 to $1,176.10 an ounce on the Comex division of the NYMEX.
Silver bid at $18.58 an ounce as against $18.43.
Meanwhile, the government today said India had become the 10th largest holder of gold in the world after it purchased 200 tonnes of the precious metal from the International Monetary Fund last year.
