Gold Rate Today, March 13, 2026: Holds͏ Above ₹1.60 Lakh A͏mid US͏-Iran Tension͏s

Mumbai, March 13: Gold pri͏ces ͏in India maintain͏ed͏ le͏vel͏s ͏abov͏e ₹1͏,60,0͏00 ͏per 10 g͏rams on Frid͏ay amid esc͏a͏lating US-͏Iran conflict and su͏rging crud͏e ͏oi͏l prices. The Mult͏i͏ Commo͏di͏ty Ex͏chan͏ge (͏MCX) gold futures for Ap͏ril 2026 opened at ͏₹1,60,251 per ͏10 grams, touched an intr͏a͏day low o͏f ₹1,59,764, and later recov͏ered marginally to ₹1,60,368 ͏per 10 grams. Internationally͏, COMEX gold hovered around $5,120 per ounce, while spo͏t ͏gold advance͏d t͏o $5,118.75 per oun͏ce,͏ signalling stabil͏isa͏tion after earlier de͏clin͏es͏.

Gold Reacts ͏to Geop͏o͏litical Esca͏lation and Oil͏ Price Surge

͏Gold prices rema͏ined sensit͏ive to ͏geopolitical developments,͏ as the US-Iran war showe͏d no signs of ͏de͏-escal͏atio͏n. The Strait of Hormuz͏ continues to be effectively͏ blo͏cked,͏ ͏di͏srupti͏ng nea͏rly a quarter ͏o͏f global oil s͏upply͏. Crude oil pri͏ces͏ surged with Bren͏t crude ͏approaching $100 per barrel a͏nd West Texas Intermediate (WTI͏) exceed͏ing $9͏5 ͏per bar͏rel, i͏ntensifying ͏con͏cerns over inflation ͏and͏ energy secur͏i͏ty. The heightened oil costs hav͏e͏ reinforced gold’s safe-ha͏ven demand both domestically and internationally.

The strong US dollar amid geopolitical tensions also influenced gold pricing. While the dollar index remained firm, yields on the US 10-year Treasury note declined slightly, supporting gold’s appeal as a non-yielding asset. Spot silver climbed 1.4% to $84.96 per ounce, with platinum and palladium advancing 0.9% and 1.4%, reflecting broader commodities movement linked to the Middle East conflict.

MCX Gold Futures Show Minor Fluctuations Amid Safe-Haven Demand

Domestic gold futures opened slightly lower but quickly recovered, trading at ₹1,60,368 per 10 grams with a gain of 0.06%. Earlier, April 2026 gold futures slipped ₹507 per 10 grams or 0.3%. Silver futures for May 2026 delivery declined ₹1,961 per kilogram, or 0.7%, settling at ₹2,66,001 per kilogram, reflecting short-term corrections amid elevated energy prices and expectations over US Federal Reserve policy.

Gold Rates Across Indian Cities Show Marginal Variations

Gold rates across major Indian cities on March 13, 2026, showed only marginal variations, reflecting uniformity in domestic pricing despite minor local differences. In Mumbai, 24K gold was priced at ₹1,64,500 per 10 grams, 22K at ₹1,51,500, and 18K at ₹1,23,800. Delhi recorded slightly higher rates with 24K at ₹1,64,800, 22K at ₹1,51,800, and 18K at ₹1,24,000.

In Bengaluru, 24K traded at ₹1,65,000, 22K at ₹1,52,000, and 18K at ₹1,24,200, while Kolkata saw 24K at ₹1,64,200, 22K at ₹1,51,000, and 18K at ₹1,23,700, indicating minor discrepancies due to local taxes, jeweller margins, and logistics costs. Differences were primarily due to local taxes, jeweller margins, and logistics costs, while the broader trend remained consistent across regions.

International Spot Gold Recovers After Two-Day Dip

Globally, spot gold rebounded after two consecutive sessions of decline, rising 0.8% to $5,118.75 per ounce. US gold futures for April delivery remained largely unchanged at $5,123.30 per ounce. Spot silver moved higher by 1.4% to $84.96 per ounce, while platinum and palladium gained 0.9% and 1.4%, reflecting safe-haven buying amid Middle East conflict.

The US dollar, which strengthened amid expectations of a delayed Federal Reserve interest rate cut, influenced the pricing of commodities denominated in dollars. While recent inflation figures suggested contained price pressures, the escalation in the Middle East and rising crude oil rates has yet to be fully reflected in economic data.

Crude Oil Above $100 Per Barrel Pressures Inflation and Gold Dynamics

Oil prices remained a key driver of gold pricing. Brent crude approached $100 per barrel, while WTI held above $95 per barrel due to tanker attacks in the Gulf and warnings from Iran. Rising energy costs elevate inflationary concerns, affect operating costs across energy-intensive industries, and reinforce gold’s status as a hedge against geopolitical and macroeconomic risks.

Gold Futures Show Consolidation Amid Geopolitical Risks

Domestic MCX gold futures showed sideways movement during early trade, trading around ₹1,60,000 per 10 grams, indicating consolidation after recent record highs. Spot gold globally rose to approximately $5,110 per ounce, halting a two-day losing streak. Safe-haven demand continues amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict, strengthening gold’s position despite volatility from the dollar and Treasury yield fluctuations.

Gold in India remains supported above ₹1,60,000 per 10 grams, with domestic demand stabilised by key city-level price trends and global spot gains. Sustained crude oil prices above $95–$100 per barrel and ongoing Middle East tensions continue to influence both domestic and international markets, while consolidation around current levels indicates steady safe-haven demand amid macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty.