Gold and silver prices dropped from their record highs on Wednesday on emergence of scrap ornament sale by retailers at attractive higher levels amid weakening global trend.
While gold dropped by Rs 330 to Rs 20,720 per ten grams,silver plummeted by Rs 1,300 to Rs 44,200 per kg.
Analysts said trading sentiment turned weak,as retailers sold scrap jewelery at existing higher levels and waited for an appropriate chance to buy new ornaments.
The buying trend further weakened following reports of decline in gold and silver price in global markets on profit-booking and a firming up dollar that reduced appeal of precious metals as an alternative asset.
Gold in global markets,which set a price trend on the domestic front here,fell by one per cent to USD 1,388.45 an ounce. The metal touched an all-time high of USD 1,432.50 on Tuesday.
On the domestic front,gold of 99.9 per cent purity tumbled by Rs 330 to Rs 20,720 per ten gram. The metal had climbed to all-time high level of Rs 21,050 on Tuesday.
Similarly,the gold of 99.5 per cent purity fell by Rs 280 to Rs 20,650 per ten gram. Sovereign followed suit and fell by Rs 50 to Rs 16,750 per piece of eight gram.
Silver ready also fell by Rs 1300 to Rs 44,200 per kg on heavy selling by stockists. It had surged to record level of Rs 45,500 per kg in the previous session.
Silver weekly-based delivery also plunged by Rs 1,320 to Rs 43,660 per kg on lack of speculator’s support amid a weakening trend in overseas markets and futures trading here.
Silver coins,too,met with resistance at higher levels and lost Rs 500 to Rs 48,500 for buying and Rs 48,600 for selling of 100 pieces.