India's gold demand to rise in June quarter: WGC

03 May 2019 Evaluate

With higher number of auspicious days for weddings and a fall in local prices ahead of a key festival, the World Gold Council (WGC) has said that India's gold demand is expected to rise in the June quarter from a year ago. It added that a rise in consumption by the country could help global prices, currently hovering near a 4-month low, but could widen India's trade deficit and put pressure on the rupee.

Weddings are one of the biggest drivers of gold purchases in India as bullion in the form of jewellery is an essential part of the bride's dowry and also a popular gift from family and guests. This year the contribution to sales from weddings could rise as the Hindu calendar shows 37 auspicious dates for weddings from just 21 in the second quarter a year earlier, up 76 percent. Indians will also celebrate Akshaya Tritiya on May 7, when buying gold is considered auspicious.

As per the WGC’s report, gold consumption in the second-quarter last year came in at 189.2 tonnes. In the first quarter of this year, consumption rose 5 percent from a year ago to 159 tonnes, also buoyed by more auspicious days for weddings and lower prices. It forecast India's gold consumption in 2019 at 750 to 850 tonnes, from 760.4 tonnes last year and a 10-year average of 838 tonnes. Gold consumption fell last year after a rise in local prices due to a weak rupee and as drought hit rural demand.

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