The demand of gold in the country in 2017-18 has increased during first and second quarters and declined in third and fourth quarters as compared to corresponding period in 2016-17
The scheme is expected to help save foreign exchange and cut the country's import bill in US dollar terms
Lower jewellery demand, flow of unofficial imports keeps inward shipments muted in first quarter of current calendar
Gold import in financial year 2017-18 is estimated at 13 per cent higher than the year before at $34 billion, the highest after 2014-15. The estimate for 2018-19 is at least another 10 per cent higher.Sonal Varma, chief India economist at borkerage Nomura, says: "Demand was higher last year, due to rebalancing of portfolios by investors after demonetisation." She said the current level of import was not a big worry for the country's current account balance; oil import was. Adding: "Portfolio rebalancing might spill over to FY19, with investors preferring higher allocation for gold. While rural demand has remained stagnant, as food prices are not rising and rural wages are also at the average level, gold's price has to be watched."Indian investors are price-sensitive and the demand for investment goes up if there is a perception of gold prices rising. In that case, "gold might be a cause to worry for the current account in FY19", says Verma. Will the gold price rise? Nigam Arora, the ..
Government on Wednesday further tightened noose around star export houses doing big business in gold import and exports. Director General of Foreign Trade has imposed restrictions on import of gold by Four Star and Five Star Houses with Nominated Agency Certificate. Effectively barring four and five Star Export Houses from importing for domestic consumption. The move is aimed at curbing practices of round tripping of gold and other misuse of such facilities.DGFT issued a notification 34 dated 18 october amending para 4.41(iii) in this regards.DGFT explained that, "Henceforth no Nominated Agency Certificate shall be issued/ renewed for Four Star Export House and Five Star Export House status holders. Import of gold by Four Star and Five Star Houses with existing Nominated Agency Certificate is subjected to Actual user condition and are permitted to import gold as input only for the purpose of manufacture and export by themselves during the remaining validity period of the Nominated ...
No nominated agency certificate shall be issued/ renewed for four-star export house and five-star export house status holders
Steps such as safeguard duty in the works to plug the route
The rise in imports by India of the precious metal will support global prices
Combined gold imports in March and April, the months preceding Akshaya Tritiya, have been the the lowest in six years
Import bill for 2015-16 now estimated at $31.5 bn, almost 9% lower than 2014-15