National News
Gold rockets to record high again amid tariff war and USD sinks to 35-month low: AUGMONT BULLION REPORT
COMEX Gold’s active month contract closed 7% higher at $3254, marking the highest weekly percentage increase since March 27, 2020. Prices are up $270, or 9%, during the last four sessions, and year-to-date they are up $593, or 22.5%.
Last week, the United States substantially boosted duties on Chinese imports, adding a new 125% penalty on top of an existing 20% duty, bringing the total to 145%. This strong approach eclipsed President Donald Trump’s 90-day postponement on heavier tariffs for other countries, raising concerns about broader economic consequences.
Investors seeking safety drove up gold prices, aided by a weakening US Dollar Index, which fell below 100 for the first time in over three years. The US dollar is falling across the board as markets react to China’s new reprisal against US imports. China stated early Friday that it will levy 125% tariffs on US imports starting Saturday, up from 84% previously declared.
The dollar has declined over 7% since Trump’s inauguration and over 2% since his comprehensive trade policy was announced last week, contrary to Wall Street’s expectations. The decrease in the dollar has coincided with sell-offs in US stocks and Treasuries. This could indicate that foreign investors are responding to Trump’s protectionist plans by selling US assets, putting downward pressure on the dollar.
The rationale for increasing gold allocations is stronger than ever in this climate of rising tariff uncertainty, poorer growth, increased inflation, and persisting geopolitical dangers. The evolving global trade, economic, and geopolitical landscape strengthens gold’s position as a safer investment haven.
In this environment of rising tariff uncertainty, poorer growth, greater inflation, and persisting geopolitical threats, the case for increasing gold allocations has never been stronger. The evolving global trade, economic, and geopolitical landscape reinforces gold’s significance as a safer investment refuge.
According to the minutes from the most recent Fed meeting, policymakers are nearly unified in acknowledging the combined problem of increasing inflation and slowing GDP, warning that the Federal Reserve will confront “difficult trade-offs” in the coming months.
| Market Insight | Price Level | Approx. INR Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Prices have risen significantly in a short time – caution is advised. | – | – |
| If price corrects below this level, profit booking may occur. | $3200 | ~Rs 93,000 |
| Possible downside target in case of correction. | $3100 | ~Rs 90,000 |
| Gold prices fell from record highs as trade tensions eased; US President Trump excluded smartphones and laptops from tariffs. | – | – |
| Ongoing trade and tariff volatility continues to create uncertainty in financial markets. | – | – |
| If dollar weakness continues, gold may hit new highs. | $3300 | ~Rs 95,000 |
National News
WGC India Gold Market Update: Import Tightening
Part Of A Broader Push To Conserve Foreign Exchange Reserves Amid Geopolitical Uncertainty and Mounting Pressure On The INR
Highlights
- Gold import duty was raised sharply by 9%– from 6% to 15%, the steepest increase on record – alongside broader regulatory tightening
- Domestic gold prices have not yet fully reflected the duty hike amid weak demand and ample supply; local markets are currently in deep discount from the landed price
- Past trends indicate that higher duty increases unofficial inflows, although official imports remain relatively resilient
- Gold demand is expected to moderate in 2026, with jewellery and bar and coin demand projected to decline by 50–60t (~10% y/y) on account of the import duty hike.
Policy actions on gold imports
Since early April, the government has adopted a series of measures aimed at moderating gold imports. These have been part of a broader push to conserve foreign exchange reserves amid geopolitical uncertainty and mounting pressure on the INR, which has depreciated by more than 7% y-t-d. These measures include price-based actions, administrative and regulatory tightening, and consumer-directed messaging. While noteworthy, they are not unprecedented; gold is among the top five imports for India, accounting for 8% of the country’s merchandise imports in 2025, and similar measures have been utilised in the past.
On the price front, the gold import duty was raised sharply from 6% to 15%, making it the single largest increase on record and fully reversing the duty cut of July 2024. Rules were also tightened for gold imports linked to exports (under the advance authorisation scheme), and the Prime Minister has directly appealed to consumers, urging them to avoid buying gold for a year.
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