Precious metals take a steep hit as global uncertainty weighs on sentiment; silver loses ₹30,000 in just ten days

Gold and silver prices fell sharply on Wednesday as escalating tensions in the Middle East rattled global commodity markets, pushing both metals into steep decline and catching buyers off guard ahead of what had been a period of sustained highs.

Gold Drops Over ₹5,000

According to the India Bullion and Jewellers Association (IBJA), 24-carat gold fell ₹5,373 on June 10 to trade at ₹1.47 lakh per 10 grams. The drop, one of the sharper single-day corrections in recent weeks, follows a broader pullback in safe-haven demand as risk sentiment shifted across global markets.

Silver Sees Steeper Correction

Silver bore the brunt of Wednesday's sell-off. One kilogram of silver fell ₹12,655 to settle at ₹2.33 lakh — a notable correction for a metal that had been trading near multi-month highs. Just ten days ago, on May 31, silver was priced at ₹2.63 lakh per kilogram. That amounts to a ₹30,000 decline in under a fortnight.

Over the same period, gold has shed roughly ₹9,000 per 10 grams.

Middle East Uncertainty Drives Volatility

Market analysts point to renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East as the primary trigger. While gold traditionally benefits from uncertainty, the latest developments appear to have unsettled speculative positions across commodities, prompting a broad unwind. Domestic demand has also remained subdued, with buyers staying on the sidelines at elevated price levels.

What Buyers Should Watch

For retail consumers — particularly those eyeing gold purchases ahead of upcoming festive or wedding seasons — the dip offers a short window of relative relief after weeks of record-level pricing. However, traders caution that volatility is likely to persist as long as geopolitical signals remain mixed.

Whether Wednesday's correction marks a deeper trend reversal or a temporary pullback remains to be seen. Global cues, especially movement in the dollar index and crude oil prices, will likely dictate the near-term direction for both metals.