Gold’s long-term outlook remains bullish as global de-dollarisation, rising fiscal stress and escalating geopolitical tensions reshape the global financial order, according to a report by Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd (MOFSL).In its latest Precious Metals Quarterly Report, the brokerage said gold prices crossed the $5,000 per ounce mark in early 2026, marking one of the strongest long-term bull phases in modern history.The firm said gold has entered a “structural repricing phase,” signalling the beginning of a new supercycle rather than a short-term cyclical rally.

Target of $6,000 in 12 months, $7,500 medium term

MOFSL expects Comex gold to settle towards $6,000 per ounce — equivalent to around Rs 1.85 lakh per 10 grams domestically — over the next 12 months. It also sees the potential for prices to move towards $7,500 per ounce in the medium term if geopolitical and fiscal pressures intensify.“The long-term outlook for gold remains positive. As global reserves gradually diversify away from dollar-centric assets and physical supply remains constrained, gold prices are likely to stay supported around and above $5,000 per ounce,” Navneet Damani, head of research, Commodities, Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd, said, as quoted by news agency PTI.Damani added that the current cycle is being driven not just by inflation, but by confidence — or the lack of it — in fiscal and monetary systems.

Gold rises despite positive real rates

The report highlighted that gold continued to climb even when real interest rates were positive between 2023 and 2025 — a period when prices would typically decline.This trend indicates that investors are increasingly worried about mounting global debt levels and the long-term stability of fiscal and monetary frameworks.“Gold’s strength despite positive real interest rates shows a clear shift in investor thinking. Real returns are increasingly seen as temporary and policy-driven, which reduces the cost of holding gold and strengthens its role as a safeguard against broader financial risks,” Manav Modi, analyst – commodities, MOFSL, said.

Geopolitical tensions, supply constraints add support

According to the report, rising geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia, along with renewed trade tensions and tariff-related disruptions, have heightened inflation and currency volatility, making gold more attractive as a neutral and reliable asset.Damani noted that as fiscal stress increases and questions emerge over monetary independence, gold’s role as non-sovereign money has gained prominence, leading to a structural shift in demand.The brokerage also pointed to tight global physical supply conditions supporting prices. Limited mine output, shrinking inventories across major exchanges and rising production costs have kept precious metal prices elevated.

Domestic demand and central bank buying

On the domestic front, rupee depreciation and strong retail demand have further supported gold prices. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have seen renewed inflows after years of decline, the report said.Central banks have remained consistent buyers, adding around 1,000 tonnes of gold annually for four consecutive years as part of efforts to diversify reserves and reduce reliance on dollar-based assets.Overall, MOFSL expects gold to remain well supported over the long term, driven by reserve diversification, constrained supply growth and ongoing global economic and geopolitical uncertainty.

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NEW DELHI: A two-month pregnant woman and her three daughters aged between three and five were found dead with their throats slit in their house in Outer Delhi’s Samaypur Badli.The killings took place Tuesday night and the woman’s husband, identified as Munchun Kewat, has been missing since then. Kewat, a vegetable vendor at Azadpur Mandi, is the main suspect, said Hareshwar Swami, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer North). Police were informed of the killings by neighbours in the apartment building in Chandan Park on Wednesday. Police found no signs of struggle. “We suspect they were killed while sleeping,” a senior officer said. Investigators are examining whether sedatives were mixed into food or water before the attack. Forensic teams have collected leftovers, including kheer and ladoo, for laboratory analysis. Relative’s son found children with their throats slit and woman lying face down Police said there was an argument between Kewat and his wife Anita around 9 pm. They also found CCTV footage in which the suspect was seen walking. Sources said Kewat’s phone was switched off after 10.30 pm.According to relatives of the deceased, the bodies were first seen by Kewat’s 10-year-old nephew who lived nearby. He had been sent to check by his father who found his brother’s phone switched off. They used to go to mandi together, and Kewat hadn’t shown up on Tuesday.Ruby Devi, a relative who lived in the same building as the deceased, said the boy noticed the gate to the room was open when he entered. He found the bodies on the bed with visible injuries. He immediately ran out crying, alerting neighbours, who then called the police.“When I heard the boy screaming, I thought it might be a case of child theft, as rumours had been swirling. But he told me what had happened to my family. When I went inside, I found them lying on the bed. The children’s throats were slit, and the woman was lying face down,” she said.“All four victims had their throats slit with a sharp edged weapon. The injuries were so deep that their windpipes was cut,” a senior police officer said, describing the crime scene as “extremely brutal”.Besides the Kewat family, two other families lived on the same floor of the building. Parul, who lives in one of the neighbouring rooms, said she did not hear any unusual sounds at night. Another relative, Sapna, said she last saw Kewat on Tuesday, wearing a maroon shirt and slippers.Raids are underway in Bihar, the accused’s native state, as well as in other parts of Delhi. The accused previously worked in Chennai, and police said they would investigate his activities there as well.A case under Section 103 (murder) of BNS has been registered at Samaypur Badli police station.

Just days after beginning a new chapter in his personal life with his marriage to Sophie Shine, former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan secured a significant legal victory as the Delhi Family Court directed his ex-wife Aesha Mukherji to return approximately ₹5.7 crore received under a disputed property settlement. The Patiala House Court’s ruling, delivered on February 25, declared that orders passed by an Australian Family Court in their matrimonial dispute are not binding in India, marking a decisive turn in the long-running cross-border legal battle.

Shikhar Dhawan’s case: Australian orders set aside by the family court in India

The family court, presided over by Judge Devender Kumar Garg, ruled that the property settlement agreement reached in Australia was “null and void” after accepting Dhawan’s contention that the documents were executed under threat, coercion, and fraud. The court held that the Australian court’s orders concerning property division cannot be enforced against Dhawan in India, as they are “alien to Indian legal principles” under the Hindu Marriage Act.

In a significant financial direction, the court ordered Mukherji to return the sale proceeds of two properties located in Australia – AU $812,397.50 received as interim settlement from a property in Berwick, and AU $82,000 retained from the sale of another property in Clyde North. The court also directed that interest at 9 per cent per annum be paid on these amounts from the date of filing of the suit until full payment is made .

Additionally, the court restrained Mukherji from enforcing the Australian court’s anti-suit injunction and related orders against Dhawan.

Coercion and threats to damage Dhawan’s reputation

Dhawan had approached the Delhi court challenging the Australian proceedings, arguing that he never voluntarily submitted to the foreign court’s jurisdiction. In his submissions, the cricketer alleged that shortly after their marriage in October 2012, Mukherji began threatening to circulate fabricated and defamatory material to damage his reputation and cricket career if he did not meet her financial demands.

The court was told that properties purchased with Dhawan’s own funds were registered either jointly or predominantly in Mukherji’s name under pressure. In one instance, Mukherji was listed as a 99 per cent owner of a property bought entirely with Dhawan’s money. Dhawan also alleged that he was compelled to purchase property in Australia in her name, which was later sold in 2019, with the proceeds retained by her as part of an interim arrangement.

The Australian settlement: What it awarded to Aesha Mukerji?

The Australian Family Court had previously passed orders in February 2024 dividing the couple’s global assets, including Dhawan’s properties and finances in India. Under that settlement, Mukherji was awarded 15 per cent of the total asset pool, which allowed her to retain assets worth approximately ₹7.46 crore (AU $1.17 million) and granted her an additional ₹15.95 crore (AU $2.5 million) from Dhawan, along with the transfer of a property.

Between 2021 and 2024, multiple orders were passed by Australian courts regarding the division of their assets. Mukherji, an Australian citizen, had sought 99 per cent ownership of three properties in Australia and custody of their son Zoravar.

Why Australian law doesn’t apply in India? 

The Delhi court’s ruling hinged on the fundamental differences between Australian and Indian matrimonial property laws. Under the Australian Family Law Act 1975, all properties -whether acquired in Australia or abroad – are brought into a “marital pool” for division, with courts able to award up to 60 per cent of assets based on each party’s financial and non-financial contributions, future needs, and earning capacity.

In contrast, Indian law under the Hindu Marriage Act 1955 mandates equitable distribution based on Indian legal principles. The court observed that the Australian legal framework was inconsistent with Indian public policy and contrary to the Hindu Marriage Act . Since the marriage was solemnised and registered in India, the foreign court lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate the dispute.

Judge Garg specifically noted that Dhawan’s participation in the Australian proceedings could not be treated as a voluntary submission to its jurisdiction, as it was allegedly carried out under fear and coercion.

Also READ: Shikhar Dhawan shuts down ‘false narratives’ about first wife after second marriage

Dhawan’s marriage and divorce timeline

Dhawan and Mukherji married in Delhi in October 2012. Mukherji, who was based in Australia and had two children from a previous marriage, continued to reside there after the wedding while Dhawan travelled between the two countries. Their son Zoravar was born in December 2014.

Differences between the couple emerged soon after the marriage, leading to prolonged legal disputes in both India and Australia. A Delhi court granted them divorce in October 2023 on grounds of mental cruelty, noting that Dhawan had suffered mental trauma after being kept away from their son for years . While permanent custody was not granted, visitation rights and access to video calls were provided. Dhawan later stated that he was subsequently blocked from communicating with his son.

Also READ: Shikhar Dhawan’s wife – All you need to know about the Irish beauty Sophie Shine

The Supreme Court on Thursday heard a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by an individual challenging the modern gas crematorium established at the Isha Yoga Center in Coimbatore, in a matter earlier dismissed by the Madras High Court.During the hearing, the Chief Justice of India described Isha’s service as “pious work” and suggested that an arrangement regarding alternate land to the petitioner could be mediated between the parties. The Supreme Court noted that the petitioner had already sold part of his land to Isha Foundation but contended that the sale was not intended for constructing a crematorium. The bench advised both sides to hold discussions and explore an amicable settlement regarding the adjoining land, and both parties agreed to resolve the matter through negotiations. During the hearing, Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioner, argued that the crematorium was causing a nuisance, with bodies being cremated daily over the past couple of weeks, and violated local rules prohibiting crematoriums or burial grounds near a dwelling or water body without a Gram Panchayat license. He also highlighted that the petitioner’s house is in a tribal area where burial, rather than cremation, is the customary practice, and that the bodies brought to the crematorium were from Coimbatore city, around 30 km away.The apex court appointed retired Madras High Court judge Rajendran as mediator for this purpose.The Madras High Court had earlier dismissed the case, observing that “the petitioner has no legal grounds. The gasifier crematorium has been built with proper panchayat permission and within the rules. Furthermore, the construction of a crematorium, especially a gas crematorium, serves the society; it cannot be called against public interest.”The foundation stated that residents from over five village panchayats surrounding the Isha Yoga Center had requested authorities to establish a crematorium in the area. It said the Isha Foundation subsequently set up the modern gasifier crematorium after securing panchayat approval and necessary clearances from the concerned government departments, including the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.Isha Foundation said that it has been operating and maintaining crematoriums across Tamil Nadu since 2010 with the objective of providing “Dignity in Death”. It currently maintains 30 crematoriums in areas including Chennai’s Besant Nagar, Coimbatore, Neyveli, Vellore and Thanjavur.

Domestic benchmark equity indices ended nearly flat on Thursday amid profit booking in select heavyweights and mixed global cues.At closing, the 30-share BSE Sensex slipped 27 points, or 0.03 per cent, to settle at 82,248.61, while the Nifty 50 edged up 14 points, or 0.06 per cent, to close at 25,496.55.The Nifty 50 had opened at 25,560.40, up 77.90 points or 0.31 per cent, while the Sensex began the session at 82,534.15, gaining 258.08 points or 0.31 per cent.

Nifty50 top gainers

Nifty50 top losers

Sensex top losers

Sensex top gainers

Among sectoral indices, PSU Banks, auto, pharma, oil & gas, telecom and metal stocks were among the gainers.According to news agency ANI, Vinod Nair, head of research at Geojit Investments Limited, said, “The domestic market surrendered its early gains amid mixed global cues and increased caution ahead of the US-Iran nuclear talks, as well as key data releases including US initial jobless claims and India’s GDP print, which triggered profit booking.”He added, “As the session progressed, investors rotated towards non-cyclical pockets such as pharma and healthcare, while defence stocks gained on optimism over potential India-Israel tech-transfer initiatives.”“Sentiment recovered in late trade following reports of meetings between Indian and US commerce officials, which rekindled hopes of progress in bilateral trade negotiations and made the market close flat,” Nair said.Sudeep Shah, head – technical and derivatives research at SBI Securities, said, “the benchmark index Nifty traded within a narrow intraday band of 172 points, reflecting a day dominated by subdued volatility and cautious sentiment. For most of the session, the index hovered close to the day’s low, indicating persistent pressure from the bears.”“However, during the final hour of trade, Nifty experienced a modest recovery, staging a mild pullback from lower levels. By the closing bell, the index ended virtually unchanged, forming a small-bodied candle with a pronounced lower shadow, suggesting buying interest emerging near support zones,” Shah said, as quoted by ANI.He further noted, “In today’s session, within the Nifty constituents, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and Eicher Motors emerged as the top performers, showcasing relative strength compared to the broader market. On the flip side, Trent and Eternal were the major laggards, dragging down the index. Sector-wise, Nifty Healthcare and Nifty Pharma led the gains, supported by renewed buying interest in defensives. Meanwhile, Nifty Media and Nifty FMCG underperformed, closing as the weakest sectoral indices for the day.”On the currency front, Jateen Trivedi, VP research analyst – commodity and currency at LKP, said, “Rupee traded with minor gains near 90.88 as market participants remained cautious amid uncertainty around US Iran talks. Any signs of rise in the conflict between Iran USA can result panic.”“Rupee remains range-bound with support seen near 91.25 and resistance around 90.50, awaiting clearer direction from global trade developments, Geo-polititcal issues and dollar index movement,” he added.

Gold prices on Thursday declined in the futures market, amid a fall in spot demand. Gold contracts for April delivery on the Multi-Commodity Exchange fell by Rs 539, or 0.33 per cent, to Rs 1,60,606 per 10 grams, with a business turnover of 647 lots. According to news agency PTI, analysts attributed the fall to weak global cues, despite gains in international markets where gold futures in New York rose 0.59 per cent to $5,196.38 per ounce.

City-wise gold rates today

Gold rate in Bengaluru today:

Bengaluru’s 24K gold price stands at Rs 16,102 per gram, while 22K gold costs Rs 14,760 and 18K gold Rs 12,077 per gram. Compared to yesterday, 24K gold declined by Rs 87, 22K by Rs 80 and 18K by Rs 65.

Gold rate in Delhi today:

In Delhi, 24K gold is priced at Rs 16,183 per gram, 22K at Rs 14,835 and 18K at Rs 12,141. Since yesterday, 24K gold has fallen by Rs 21, 22K by Rs 20 and 18K by Rs 16.

Gold rate in Mumbai today:

Mumbai’s 24K gold rate stands at Rs 16,102 per gram. The 22K variant is at Rs 14,760, while 18K gold is priced at Rs 12,077. Compared to the previous day, 24K gold dropped by Rs 87, 22K by Rs 80 and 18K by Rs 65.

Gold rate in Chennai today:

In Chennai, 24K gold is trading at Rs 16,277 per gram, 22K at Rs 14,920 and 18K at Rs 12,765. 24K gold eased by Rs 11, 22K by Rs 10, while 18K remained unchanged from yesterday.

Gold rate in Kolkata today:

Kolkata records 24K gold at Rs 16,102 per gram, 22K at Rs 14,760 and 18K at Rs 12,077. All three categories declined, with 24K down Rs 87, 22K down Rs 80 and 18K down Rs 65.

Gold rate in Hyderabad today:

Hyderabad sees 24K gold at Rs 16,102 per gram, 22K at Rs 14,760 and 18K at Rs 12,077. Prices are lower by Rs 87, Rs 80 and Rs 65 respectively.

Gold rate in Ahmedabad today:

In Ahmedabad, 24K gold is priced at Rs 16,173 per gram, 22K at Rs 14,825 and 18K at Rs 12,131. Compared to yesterday, 24K is down Rs 21, 22K down Rs 20 and 18K down Rs 16.

Gold rate in Jaipur today:

Jaipur’s 24K gold rate stands at Rs 16,183 per gram, while 22K is Rs 14,835 and 18K Rs 12,141. Prices have declined by Rs 21, Rs 20 and Rs 16 respectively.

Gold rate in Bhubaneswar today:

In Bhubaneswar, 24K gold is retailing at Rs 16,102 per gram, 22K at Rs 14,760 and 18K at Rs 12,077. All three fell by Rs 87, Rs 80 and Rs 65 respectively.

Gold rate in Pune today:

Pune records 24K gold at Rs 16,102 per gram, 22K at Rs 14,760 and 18K at Rs 12,077. The rates are lower by Rs 87, Rs 80 and Rs 65 compared to yesterday.

Gold rate in Kanpur today:

Kanpur’s 24K gold price is Rs 16,183 per gram, 22K stands at Rs 14,835 and 18K at Rs 12,141. Prices have slipped by Rs 21, Rs 20 and Rs 16 respectively.