Gold Rate Today: Key Factors Affecting Gold Prices In India

Japanese iPhone component maker Murata Manufacturing is planning to move part of its production to India. The company has leased a plant in Chennai’s OneHub Industrial Park to package and ship ceramic capacitors starting April 2026. Murata, which produces vital electronic components for Apple, Samsung, and Sony, sees rising demand in India. While not ready for a full factory, it aims to expand as India improves infrastructure. US tariffs under President Trump are also a concern, pushing Murata to diversify its supply chain beyond China and Japan.

Stock market experts recommend three strong stocks to buy today: ONGC, Tata Motors, and Sundaram Finance. ONGC is suggested for an entry near ₹233 with a target of ₹248 and a stop-loss at ₹225, as it shows a double bottom formation and RSI divergence. Tata Motors is recommended above ₹685, aiming for ₹755, with support at ₹650 due to a bullish pattern. Sundaram Finance is set for a breakout, making it a buy near ₹4650 with a target of ₹5200 and a stop-loss at ₹4350. Traders should watch these stocks for potential gains.

Tata Steel’s UK unit has secured approval to build an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) in Port Talbot, South Wales. This £1.25 billion project, backed by £500 million from the UK government, will replace aging blast furnaces and cut CO2 emissions by 90%. The move preserves 5,000 jobs but leads to 2,800 job losses as EAFs require less manpower. The furnace will start operations by late 2027, using scrap steel instead of imported iron ore and coal. This shift aligns with Tata Steel’s strategy to adopt greener and more sustainable steel production.

Tesla is looking to set up an electric vehicle (EV) factory in India, with Maharashtra as its top choice. The company is exploring land in Pune’s Chakan and Chikhali areas, close to major automakers like Tata Motors and Volkswagen. Tesla is also in talks with Tata Motors for a possible collaboration. Recently, it listed 13 job openings in India, hinting at plans for showrooms in Mumbai and Delhi. The company seeks policy incentives, such as lower import duties, to ease its entry into India’s growing EV market. Tesla had earlier delayed entry due to high import taxes but remains interested after recent policy changes. The final decision depends on state government negotiations and logistics feasibility.

Indian stock markets opened lower on Wednesday, with the BSE Sensex dropping over 350 points below 75,600, while Nifty50 slipped to 22,830, down 114 points. Markets have closed in the red in 9 out of the last 10 sessions, pressured by banking, auto, and FMCG stocks. Experts suggest Nifty remains bearish below 23,150, with support at 22,800. However, analysts see a possible trend reversal as a dragonfly doji pattern signals stability. FIIs and DIIs increased their investments, while global market trends and Federal Reserve minutes remain key factors to watch.

Top Losers:

• IndusInd Bank: Declined by 2.26%, closing at ₹1,024.20.

• Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M): Declined by 1.48%, closing at ₹2,788.40.

• Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL): Declined by 1.42%, closing at ₹2,295.80.

• UltraTech Cement: Declined by 1.38%, closing at ₹11,323.25.

• Tata Consultancy Services (TCS): Declined by 0.87%, closing at ₹3,869.45.

• ITC Ltd: Declined by 0.81%, closing at ₹405.20.

Top Gainer : -

NTPC Ltd: Gained by 2.93%, closing at ₹311.20.

Tech Mahindra Ltd: Gained by 2.41%, closing at ₹1,705.00.

Wipro Ltd: Gained by 2.24%, closing at ₹312.20.

Power Grid Corporation: Gained by 1.42%, closing at ₹266.95.

Oil & Natural Gas Corporation: Gained by 1.26%, closing at ₹236.60.

In January 2025, the mutual fund industry saw a worrying trend: more Systematic Investment Plans (SIPs) were discontinued than initiated. Data reveals that while 1.2 million new SIPs began, 1.5 million were halted, leading to a net decline of 300,000 SIPs. This shift suggests that investors might be rethinking their investment strategies, possibly due to market volatility or changing financial priorities. Experts advise investors to assess their financial goals and risk tolerance before making decisions about their SIPs.

On Tuesday, February 18, Indian equity markets experienced a volatile session, closing with minor losses due to weak corporate earnings and continuous foreign fund withdrawals.

The S&P BSE SENSEX dipped by 29.47 points (0.04%) to 75,987.39, while the NSE NIFTY50 declined by 14.20 points (0.06%) to 22,945.30. Notably, 787 stocks reached their 52-week lows, reflecting widespread market pressure.

Elon Musk's AI company, xAI, has introduced Grok 3, a new chatbot Musk describes as "scary smart." Grok 3 boasts ten times more computing power than its predecessor, enhancing its ability to tackle complex tasks by breaking them down and verifying facts before responding.

Early tests indicate Grok 3 outperforms AI models from OpenAI, Google, and DeepSeek. It offers two reasoning modes: "Think" for displaying its thought process and "Big Brain" for more demanding tasks.

Zomato has launched Nugget, an AI-powered customer support platform, after testing it internally for three years. CEO Deepinder Goyal announced that Nugget can resolve up to 80% of queries autonomously, adapt in real time, and requires no coding skills. It handles 15 million+ interactions per month for Zomato, Blinkit, and Hyperpure. The platform also classifies complaint images, automates audits, and builds voice AI agents. Businesses using older providers can switch to Nugget for free. This marks the first launch from Zomato Labs, the company’s innovation arm.

Major banks like JPMorgan and HSBC are flying gold worth billions from London to New York as US gold prices hit record highs. Investors are turning to gold as a safe haven, fearing a possible trade war after President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Europe. London gold prices are $20 lower than in the US, making it profitable to transport gold overseas. Interest rates for borrowing gold have surged, adding pressure on market players. Banks also face logistical challenges, as Comex contracts require different-sized gold bars, often needing refining before shipment.

Volkswagen India has moved the Bombay High Court to challenge a customs notice accusing the company of evading $1.4 billion in taxes over 12 years. The customs department claims Volkswagen misclassified auto parts as completely knocked-down (CKD) kits to pay lower import duties. The company argues it always imported unassembled parts, which attract a 10% duty, and denies any wrongdoing. Volkswagen warned that the tax demand could harm its business and employees. The court is set to hear the case further on Thursday, as customs officials claim they have strong evidence.

Gold prices increased slightly on Tuesday, with 24-carat gold rising ₹10 to ₹86,630 per 10 grams. The price of 22-carat gold also climbed ₹10 to ₹79,410. In Delhi, gold was priced higher at ₹86,780 for 24-carat and ₹79,560 for 22-carat. Silver prices dropped ₹100, now selling at ₹1,00,400 per kg in Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru, while Chennai recorded ₹1,07,900 per kg. Global gold prices moved up due to market concerns over US tariffs, boosting its appeal as a safe-haven asset. US spot gold rose 0.1% to $2,898.99, while silver fell 1.3% to $32.37 an ounce.

Tesla is expanding its presence in India by hiring for 13 roles, including customer support, sales, and service operations. This comes after CEO Elon Musk met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. India recently cut import duties on high-end EVs from 110% to 70%, making the country a more attractive market for Tesla. The company has long sought lower tariffs before committing to local manufacturing. With India’s push for clean energy and a growing demand for EVs, Tesla’s hiring signals a bigger investment in the country’s electric vehicle future.

The Nifty 50 index remains under pressure, struggling to break the crucial 23,000 mark. Analysts say strong support lies at 22,700-22,800, a level that has held multiple times. If Nifty stays above this, a pullback towards 23,000-23,075 is possible. However, a decisive close above 23,150-23,200 is needed for a bullish trend. If the index fails to hold support, further dips toward 22,600-22,400 could follow. Experts advise tracking these key levels closely to gauge market direction.

Top Loser:

• Mahindra & Mahindra: Declined by 3.76%, closing at ₹2,831.95.

• Bharti Airtel: Declined by 2.42%, closing at ₹1,675.55.

• Wipro Ltd: Declined by 0.89%, closing at ₹305.35.

• Tata Consultancy Services: Declined by 0.77%, closing at ₹3,904.50.

• Infosys Ltd: Declined by 0.76%, closing at ₹1,842.30.

Top Gainer:

• Adani Enterprises: Gained by 3.30%, closing at ₹2,223.70.

• Bajaj Finserv: Gained by 2.91%, closing at ₹1,894.85.

• IndusInd Bank: Gained by 2.33%, closing at ₹1,048.25.

• Power Grid Corporation of India: Gained by 2.27%, closing at ₹263.20.

• Shriram Finance: Gained by 2.08%, closing at ₹550.35.