Gold jumps to all-time high of Rs 34,500 on weak rupee

Gold prices zoomed to a record high of Rs 34,500 per ten gram with a biggest ever single day surge of Rs 2,500 in opening trade in bullion market today amid the rupee hitting historic low of 68.75 a dollar.

The current upsurge surpassed its record price of Rs 32,975 per ten gram, set on November 27 last year, with its biggest ever single day surge as panic-striken investors rushed to purchase gold as a safe haven during current financial crisis when forex and equity melting fast.

The rupee has been witnessing an unprecedented plunge in its value as it dropped to an all-time intra-day low of 68.75 per dollar today, while the BSE benchmark Sensex also declined sharply.

'The bullion demand has got a boost as the rupee hit fresh record low and equities tumbled, leaving no place for investors but to park their funds in gold as a safe-haven,' Surender Jain, Vice President, All India Sarafa Bazar told PTI.

He said the yellow metal climbed to over three-month high in global markets as speculation that the US could lead military action against Syria within days spurred investors' demand for a haven.

A Delhi-based bullion merchant Rakesh Anand said the outlook for gold is bullish as dollar-priced metal moving hand-in-hand with forex market and shifting of investors funds from melting equities.

'Gold will have more upward strength in coming days keeping in view the approaching festival and marriage season,' Anand said.

The gold in Singapore, which normally set price trend on the domestic front here, dropped by 0.3 per cent to 1,419.55 dollar an ounce.

Traders said a steep rise in gold prices on the Multi Commodity Exchange in early trade today further supported the uptrend, indicating more demand for the precious metals in coming sessions.