Strong demand in a high-price era: How key markets are reshaping gold & silver consumption
Gold and silver demand remains robust despite record-high prices, driven by investment, industrial use, and central-bank accumulation. China and India continue strong consumption, while Western markets increase allocations for diversification and hedging. Tight supply and resilient global appetite suggest that upward price momentum for precious metals may persist in 2026.
CME raises gold, silver margins after prices plunge to historical lows
CME Group has raised margin requirements for gold and silver futures after historic price crashes triggered extreme volatility. The hikes, effective Monday, aim to stabilise markets as collateral demands rise across precious metals. The move follows steep declines in gold and silver, intensifying pressure on leveraged traders.
Bitcoin holds near $84,000 as markets react to Kevin Warsh’s Fed chair nomination
Bitcoin hovered near $84,000 as markets reacted to Kevin Warsh’s nomination as US Federal Reserve Chair. While short-term volatility persists amid ETF outflows and macro uncertainty, reduced leverage and oversold conditions may support a near-term rebound across major cryptocurrencies if sentiment stabilises.
Madhusudan Kela’s portfolio sees 9 stocks slide 15–45% in 7 months; adds one new Q3 bet
Madhusudan Kela’s portfolio faced sharp volatility with nine stocks plunging 15–45% over the past seven months, even as he introduced one fresh bet in Q3.
Can Budget bring durable relief to stock market sentiments?
Budget 2026 arrives amid weak market sentiment, thin participation, and geopolitical pressures. With fiscal constraints and limited scope for major tax changes, the focus is expected on structural reforms like power sector and IBC revamps. While these could support long-term equities, short-term market revival may remain muted.
Gold & Silver ETFs fall sharply as dollar rises: What should investors do?
Gold and silver ETFs experienced a sharp decline following a significant selloff in precious metals, with spot gold falling 5.4% and silver dropping 10.7%. This correction was attributed to a strengthening US dollar and profit-booking after a strong January rally. Experts advise caution due to near-term volatility but maintain a bullish long-term outlook.
INR Check: What history reveals about gold, silver and market crashes
Concurrent Gainers: 9 smallcaps log gains for 5 straight sessions
Don’t Rush to Grade D-St on B-Day, Wait a Bit
Benchmark indices and broader markets have historically shown subdued performance on Union Budget day, with less than 1% movement. However, a week after the event, both Nifty and Sensex have shown stronger gains. Three months post-budget, while the Nifty experienced significant swings, it generally trended upwards, with the exception of a notable fall in 2020.
Top 5 smallcap mutual funds offer up to 27% annualised return in 3 years
Top smallcap mutual funds delivered strong three-year returns of up to 27%, led by Bandhan Small Cap Fund. Passive small cap index funds and actively managed schemes dominated the top performers, while several established funds lagged with negative returns, highlighting wide divergence in small cap fund performance.