What Factors Affect Gold Prices?

Even though the stock market has had a rough few months, gold is still highly valued, especially in India. India is one of the two biggest consumers of gold in the world, along with China. Each year, India uses more than 25% of the world's gold. Demand for jewellery in the country goes up a lot during the wedding and holiday seasons, which often drives up the price of the item. Even if this rise in demand and price for gold is due to this, there are other factors that affect gold prices across the country. In one of its reports, the World Gold Council (WGC) said that income and the price of gold are two important factors that have a long-term, large effect on consumer demand. Some other things that can affect the price of gold are: Inflation Inflation, which is when the prices of goods and services go up, could have a big effect on the price of gold. Most of the time, inflation has a direct effect on the price of gold. Since inflation makes money worth less, the price of gold usually goes up when inflation goes up. This is because when inflation is high, people tend to store their money in gold because they think its value will stay the same over time. This makes the demand for gold go up. So, gold can also be used to protect against inflation. Interest rates Historically, interest rates and gold prices have had the opposite relationship. When interest rates go up, people often prefer to sell gold to make more money. But when interest rates go down, more people decide to buy gold, which drives up both its demand and price. Festive seasons Gold has always been seen as a strategic asset in Indian homes, and it has also become a part of Indian culture. Gold has a special place in the lives of Indian families, from being used in wedding ceremonies to being worn as jewellery on important holidays like Diwali. Gold prices go up during wedding and festival seasons because people want to buy more of it. In 2019, the World Gold Council (WGC) did a study that found that Indian families may have as much as 25,000 tonnes of gold. This makes India the country with the most gold in the world. Pleasant Monsoon Rains Studies show that rural India uses up to 60% of India's total annual gold use, which is thought to be between 800 and 850 tonnes. So, the agricultural market has a lot to do with the demand for gold in the country, and the farmers' incomes depend a lot on how well their crops do. When the monsoon rains are good, there is more demand for gold in the country. This makes farmers, who use about a third of the country's gold, buy gold to build their wealth. Reserves on Treasury Like the central banks of most other countries, the Reserve Bank of India keeps gold reserves along with their money. The price of gold goes up when the RBI starts to buy more gold than it sells. This is because there isn't enough gold and there is more cash coming into the market. A Way to Deal with Uncertainty People often choose to invest in or buy gold as a commodity when the market is volatile. This could be because of a slowing economy or trouble in the government. Gold is seen as a good alternative when other assets lose value because its value stays the same over time. Also, because uncertainty isn't a number, it has more of a psychological effect on gold prices than other factors. Politics and geography India is one of the countries that uses gold the most, so any change in the price of gold on the international market would affect how much it costs there. Investors also see gold as a safe place to put their money during times of political uncertainty or geopolitical unrest. This increases the demand for gold, which drives up its price. During times of crisis, people tend to buy more gold, which makes it a good way to store money. Other types of assets, on the other hand, would often lose value during these times. What the Rupee Does to Gold It is important to understand how the relationship between the rupee and the dollar affects the price of gold in India. Since most physical gold is brought in from other countries, the price of gold in rupees will go up when the rupee falls against the dollar. So, a falling rupee could make India less interested in buying gold. Conclusion: Gold, which is seen as a valuable financial asset, is one of the most popular ways to invest in India. Investors often turn to gold as a safe place to put their money during uncertain times like geopolitical turmoil or trade disputes between countries. But gold prices in the country are also affected by things like inflation, interest rates, and the rupee-dollar exchange rate.