Gold, silver drop further on sustained selling, global cues

New Delhi, Dec 24. Extending losses for the second straight day, gold fell by Rs 175 to Rs 30,050 per ten grams in the national capital today on sustained selling by stockists amid weakening global trend. Silver also declined for the second consecutive session by Rs 120 to Rs 43,740 per kg on reduced offtake by jewellers and industrial units. Traders said sustained selling by stockists on the back of sluggish demand mainly kept pressure on precious metals. Weak global trend, where gold traded below USD 1200 as investor holdings retreated and US equities climbed to a record high amid signs of an improving economy, further dampened the sentiment, they said. Gold in Singapore, which normally sets price trend on the domestic front, traded at USD 1,199.10 an ounce and silver dropped 0.5 per cent to USD 19.37 an ounce. Besides, strengthening rupee against the American currency, which makes the dollar-priced precious metal's import cheaper, too influenced the sentiment, they added. On the domestic front, gold of 99.9 and 99.5 per cent purity remained under selling pressure and lost another Rs 175 each at Rs 30,050 and Rs 29,850 per ten grams, respectively. It had lost Rs 175 yesterday. Sovereign, however, held steady at Rs 25,100 per piece of eight gram in limited deals. Similarly, silver ready declined by Rs 120 to Rs 43,550 per kg and weekly-based delivery by Rs 230 to Rs 43,740 per kg. The white metal had shed Rs 280 in the previous session. Silver coins followed suit and dropped by Rs 1,000 to Rs 84,000 for buying and Rs 85,000 for selling of 100 pieces.