Gold premium near record high on limited supply

MUMBAI (Reuters) - Gold demand in India was robust on Wednesday, but limited supplies were forcing jewellers to pay near-record premium.

* The actively traded gold for February delivery on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) was up 0.12 percent at 29,096 rupees per 10 grams at 3:15 p.m.

* The rupee plays an important role in determining the landed cost of the dollar-quoted yellow metal. The rupee edged up on Wednesday.

* Overseas, gold hit a new five-month low on Wednesday as investors awaited more U.S. economic data due later this week to gauge the outlook for the Federal Reserve's bond purchases that have boosted bullion's appeal as a hedge against inflation.

* Silver for March delivery on the MCX was 0.56 percent lower at 43,890 rupees per kg.

* To ease trade deficit, India, which is the world's biggest consumer of bullion, has made bringing in gold more expensive, the biggest non-essential import item. The government has set the import duty at a record high 10 percent.

* "No one is giving us stocks, all of it is going to exporters," said Harshad Ajmera, proprietor with JJ Gold House in Kolkata. He added that premiums were quoted at more than $130 an ounce.

* The federal government has tied the quantity of imports to exports, making it necessary for importing agencies to fulfill export orders before sending any bullion for local consumption.

(Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav; Editing by Prateek Chatterjee)