New Delhi (PTI): Gold and silver prices scaled fresh lifetime highs in the domestic futures market on Monday, mirroring record gains in global markets amid expectations of US Federal Reserve rate cuts and a softer dollar buoyed sentiment.

On the MCX, the yellow metal futures for October delivery surged by Rs 1,204 or 1.06 per cent to touch a lifetime high of Rs 1,14,992 per 10 grams. The December contract for gold futures also advanced Rs 1,034 or 0.9 per cent, to hit a record Rs 1,15,925 per 10 grams.

Last week, gold futures rallied by Rs 4,188, or 3.77 per cent, to close at Rs 1,14,891 per 10 grams on Friday.

"Gold prices have been shining for quite some time, and the past week saw gold prices touching new highs in the domestic as well as international markets," said Prathamesh Mallya, DVP-Research, Non-Agri Commodities and Currencies at Angel One.

 

He noted that the rally showed no signs of pausing, with investors caught in a dilemma of whether to enter or book profits at elevated levels.

"Tariff levies, the Russia-Ukraine war, US-China trade tensions, and a host of other factors continue to drive liquidity and momentum in gold prices in the recent past," Mallya added.

Silver futures too witnessed robust gains on Monday. The white metal for December delivery jumped Rs 2,290 or 1.61 per cent, to hit an all-time high of Rs 1,44,179 per kilogram.

The March 2026 contract for silver futures surged by Rs 2,559, or 1.79 per cent, to a fresh peak of Rs 1,45,817 per kg on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX).

In the previous week, silver futures had surged by Rs 12,051, or 9.28 per cent, to close at Rs 1,41,889 per kg.

Globally, bullion prices continued their upward march. Gold futures for December delivery rose nearly 1 per cent to touch a record high of USD 3,837.72 per ounce while silver climbed more than 1 per cent to hit a high of USD 47.39 per ounce.

"Gold prices climbed to a record high, driven by growing expectations of further US rate cuts and a weaker dollar," said Jigar Trivedi, Senior Research Analyst at Reliance Securities.

He pointed out that the latest US Personal Consumption Expenditures inflation data matched market expectations and reinforced bets that the Federal Reserve could continue easing monetary policy later this year.

Meanwhile, the dollar index, which tracks the greenback against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.18 per cent lower at 97.97, lending further support to precious metals.

"Traders are currently pricing in a 90 per cent chance of a rate cut in October and about a 65 per cent probability of an additional move in December. At the same time, investors are monitoring the risk of a potential US government shutdown, which could delay the release of key labour market data and complicate the Fed's decision-making process," Trivedi said.

Adding to the global uncertainty, US President Donald Trump last week announced a new round of tariffs on imported drugs, trucks, and furniture, effective October 1, clouding the economic outlook further.

Market experts said the interplay of monetary easing expectations, geopolitical tensions, and trade-related risks is expected to keep bullion prices elevated in the near term.

 

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London (PTI): Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol huddled under an umbrella on a rainy Thursday in London to unveil their bronze likeness from an iconic ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ scene.

The sculpture of the duo joins Leicester Square’s ‘Scenes in the Square’ trail depicting memorable shots from some of the world’s most famous films, with ‘DDLJ’ marking a Bollywood first and the 30th anniversary of the 1995 box-office hit. It is in this popular London square that SRK as Raj and Kajol as Simran first cross paths unknowingly.

“DDLJ was made with a pure heart. We wanted to tell a story about love, how it can bridge barriers and how the world would be a better place if it had a lot of love in it, and I think this is why 'DDLJ' has had a lasting impact for over 30 years now," said Khan.

“Personally, 'DDLJ' is part of my identity, and it is humbling to see film, and Kajol and me, receiving so much love since it was released,” he said.

He expressed his gratitude to the Heart of London Business Alliance, behind the cinematic trail at Leicester Square, for celebrating ‘DDLJ’ and “immortalising” its lead stars.

“Seeing ‘DDLJ’ become the first Indian film to be honoured in the iconic Scenes in the Square trail is an emotional moment and has brought back so many memories.

"I feel immense pride knowing the film has been embraced around the world, and I want to share this moment with the entire cast and crew of ‘DDLJ’, my friend and director Aditya Chopra and the Yash Raj Films family. This is a moment I will never forget,” added Khan.

Kajol, joined by her daughter Nysa and son Yug, posed with Khan in front of the statue as she braved the rain in a green saree.

“It’s incredible to see ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ continue to receive so much love, even 30 years later. Watching the statue being unveiled in London felt like reliving a piece of our history - a story that has truly travelled across generations,” said Kajol.

“Seeing it find its rightful place in Leicester Square, a location of such enormous significance to ‘DDLJ’, makes this moment even more special. For the film to be honoured in this way in the UK – the first Indian film to receive such recognition – is something that will forever stay in the hearts and minds of all the ‘DDLJ’ fans across the world,” she said.

Their statue, captured in a dancing pose from the hit song ‘Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna’, joins the likes of Harry Potter, Bridget Jones, Mary Poppins, and Batman in what is dubbed as an ever-growing celebration of movie magic in a square packed with multiplex cinema screens.

“When ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’, DDLJ, was released 30 years ago, the film became a defining moment for Indian cinema and changed the face of the industry, capturing the hearts of everyone who saw it all over the globe," said Akshaye Widhani, CEO of Yash Raj Films.

“We’re thrilled to be the first Indian film to be represented in ‘Scenes in the Square’. It also marks 30 years of DDLJ, a film that has spread love and joy globally, and shows the cultural impact it has had in UK.

“We are honoured that our superstars and our film are being recognised on the world stage alongside the Hollywood elite, from Gene Kelly to Laurel & Hardy to Harry Potter. This statue will be a great way to express the international appeal of Indian movies and build bridges amongst communities through cinema,” he said.

Since its release in 1995, ‘DDLJ’ has become the longest-running film in Hindi cinema history.

Ros Morgan, Chief Executive at Heart of London Business Alliance, said: “We’re proud to welcome global megastars Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol to our Scenes in the Square trail.

"Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge is a cinematic phenomenon that has shaped generations, and London’s first tribute to Indian cinema honours a story whose magic continues to captivate audiences worldwide.”

It is a particularly special year for the film, with a musical based on the romance playing to packed houses at Manchester’s Opera House earlier this year. Aditya Chopra reprised his role as director of the English language stage production, ‘Come Fall In Love – The DDLJ Musical’, which revolved around the love story of Simran and Roger.

The script was a nod to the original as it followed Simran as a young British Indian woman who finds herself engaged to a family friend in India in an arranged marriage. However, the plot thickens when she falls in love with a British man named Roger.