Gold rate in the local market fell by Rs2,500 per tola after the rupee recovered, prompting investors to shift focus towards riskier assets, breaking the precious commodity's three-session winning streak.
The gold rate (24 carats) fell by Rs2,500 per tola and Rs2,142 per 10 grams to settle at Rs214,500 and Rs183,900, respectively, according to the data released by All-Pakistan Sarafa Gems and Jewellers Association.
The depreciation was in line with the rupee movement — which gained ground and closed at 284.42 against the US dollar in the interbank market — and a downtrend in the global markets.
The price of the yellow metal was increasing since the last three trading sessions as gold is often hailed as a hedge against inflation.
Pakistan’s monthly inflation in March soared to an all-time high level — 35.4% — from a year earlier, with people feeling more pain from some of the fastest rising consumer prices amid straining budgets as the cost of living continues to outstrip average incomes.
Investors’ attention has now shifted to other markets as the rupee and stocks registered gains following Saudi Arabia's assurance to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) of depositing $2 billion in Pakistan.
The assurance from Riyadh will play a major role in reviving the stalled bailout programme that Pakistan has been seeking to resume since last year.
Gold price moves in line with the rupee-dollar parity as the country meets almost all its gold demand through imports, and traders follow its international price in setting rates in the country.
Jewellers import the metal against the US dollar and UAE dirham before converting its price into rupees.
The association also mentioned that the price of gold is Rs8,000 per tola “undercost” in Pakistan, compared to the Dubai market, showing that the Pakistani gold market was currently cheaper than the global.
Meanwhile, silver prices in the domestic market remained unchanged at Rs2,450 per tola and Rs2,100.48 per 10 grams.
In the international market, gold price declined by $4 per ounce to settle at $2,019.
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