Gold Above ₹96,000: Should You Buy, Hold

Gold prices are holding near all-time highs as global uncertainty continues. Before you rush to buy more gold or panic-sell, here's what's actually driving prices — and what Indian investors should do right now.

Here's what happened: Gold has surged over 25% in the past year, driven by global uncertainty, central bank buying, and a weakening US dollar.. US Federal Reserve rate decisions are a key trigger — when the Fed cuts rates, gold typically rises further as dollar-denominated assets lose appeal.. Geopolitical tensions in West Asia historically push investors toward gold as a 'safe haven', adding buying pressure on already elevated prices..

What you should do: Review your portfolio: gold should ideally be 10–15% of your total investments — if it's more, consider rebalancing into equity SIPs.. Avoid buying physical gold at current peaks; instead, use Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) or Gold ETFs to reduce making charges and storage risk.. If you have idle physical gold at home, check RBI's Gold Monetisation Scheme — earn 2.5% annual interest on gold you're not using..

Sovereign Gold Bonds give you gold price gains PLUS 2.5% annual interest — physical gold gives you neither. Always prefer SGBs over jewellery as an investment.