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Gold, Silver Latest Rates—Is it the right time to buy? Analysts weigh in
Written By Ankit Kumar
Published: | Updated:
Gold, Silver Latest Rates: Gold and silver prices have moved higher again, keeping bullion firmly in focus for investors and buyers. Experts at Motilal Oswal say global cues, currency swings and upcoming US policy signals will be key in deciding the next direction.
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Gold, Silver Latest Rates. Image: Unsplash
Gold, Silver Latest Rates: Gold and silver prices jumped again on February 18 after a shaky start to the week. The sudden rise has buyers wondering whether bullion is heading for fresh record highs or if this is just a short-lived spike before prices cool off again. Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd (MOFSL) believes the answer depends on global cues, the US dollar’s strength, and what the Federal Reserve signals next. As of 10:00 pm IST on February 18, domestic gold futures were trading near Rs 1,55,628, while the silver contract stood at Rs 2,43,238 -- with both precious metals in focus for traders and long-term investors.
Gold and silver extend gains as markets turn cautious
The latest rise comes at a time when global uncertainty is still shaping demand for safe-haven assets. Gold, despite slipping below $4,900 earlier, found some support as investors remained cautious ahead of key economic triggers.Motilal Oswal noted that bullion was pressured by a firmer dollar, while falling Treasury yields provided only limited relief. Safe-haven buying eased a bit as tensions cooled after fresh diplomatic signals between Iran and the US.
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Still, markets remain alert, because even small changes in global mood can quickly push gold prices up or down.
Why are prices rising sharply in India?
In domestic trade, gold futures for April delivery rose more than 1 per cent, while silver futures for March delivery surged over 3.5 per cent, making silver the stronger performer of the day.
Analysts say the sharp jump reflects a mix of:
- Strong demand in the domestic bullion market
- Supportive international prices after an early dip
- Investors returning to gold amid currency volatility
- Thin liquidity conditions due to Lunar New Year holidays in Asia
Silver, in particular, tends to react more aggressively because of its industrial linkages and higher volatility compared to gold.
MOFSL’s View: Dollar strength still a key pressure point
According to Motilal Oswal’s report, gold slipped under $4,900 mainly due to a stronger dollar, which makes bullion more expensive for global buyers.
The brokerage added that declining Treasury yields offered limited support, keeping sentiment cautious across commodities.
At the same time, easing geopolitical tensions reduced some urgency for safe-haven buying, even though underlying institutional interest remains steady.
Gold ETF holdings have continued to edge higher, suggesting that long-term investors are still quietly accumulating the metal.
Physical demand remains strong in India and China
Even with prices near historic highs, physical buying has not disappeared. Motilal Oswal pointed out that demand has stayed resilient across key Asian markets.
India’s gold imports rose in January, showing that people are still buying gold even at high prices. China also continues to support demand, though trading is quieter this week because of Lunar New Year holidays, which could lead to sharper price swings. Silver, meanwhile, remains more volatile. Unlike gold ETFs, which are still seeing inflows, silver ETFs have started to witness outflows.
Motilal Oswal highlighted that silver ETFs recorded net outflows following the recent decline, signalling weaker institutional conviction in the short term.
This is important because silver often moves faster than gold — both on the upside and the downside.
Is this the right time to buy gold and silver?
The big question for retail investors is whether current levels still offer an opportunity. Analysts suggest that prices are still below their all-time highs, which could make phased buying attractive for long-term holders.
However, Motilal Oswal advises caution, as near-term direction will depend heavily on upcoming global triggers, including:
- Federal Reserve January meeting minutes
- US inflation and GDP data
- Housing numbers
- Comments from Fed officials on rate cuts
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