from Reuters.com
Oct 19 Gold prices in India swung to a premium for the first time in nine months on Wednesday as jewellers and dealers in the world’s No.2 consumer of the metal ramped up purchases ahead of major festivals.
Dealers were charging up to $2 an ounce over official domestic prices, the first time premiums have been seen since mid-January, said Bachhraj Bamalwa, director at the All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation.
Gold importers have traditionally charged premiums to mitigate risks they take due to currency and price fluctuations.
But the precious metal had been trading at a discount for most of this year due to weaker-than-usual demand and a rise in smuggling. Discounts hit a record high of $100 an ounce in July.