Indian jewellers shy away as high gold prices dent appetite

BENGALURU/MUMBAI - High local prices hit physical gold demand in India this week while activity in most other Asian centers remained subdued due to the Lunar New Year holiday. In India, the second-biggest consumer of the metal after China, local gold prices were trading near a 15-month high of 30,839 rupees touched last week, denting the appetite of jewelers. "Sentiment is weak. Jewellers are not comfortable buying at current price levels," said Mukesh Kothari, director at bullion dealer RiddiSiddhi Bullions in Mumbai. Dealers in India were offering a discount of up to $2 an ounce over official domestic prices, compared with a discount of $3 last week. The domestic price includes a 10 percent import tax. "Since retail demand is weak, jewelers are not in a hurry. They can wait for a price correction," said a Mumbai-based dealer with a private bank. Gold demand in India is likely to remain below its 10-year average for a third year in 2018 as higher t...