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SGBs are witnessing heightened involvement from retail investors successful the secondary market. (AI image)
Ahead of Diwali and Dhanteras, golden prices person been skyrocketing this festive season. Investors are looking astatine concern avenues - and Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) are gaining immense traction successful the secondary market.
SGBs connection an eight-year concern play with a 2.5% yearly involvement rate, featuring taxation exemption astatine maturity without immoderate retention fees oregon disbursal ratios. Each portion corresponds to 1 gram of gold.
Craze for Sovereign Gold Bonds
SGBs are witnessing heightened involvement from retail investors successful the secondary market, who are trading these government-issued gold-linked securities astatine prices importantly supra the existent golden rates, according to an ET report.Individual investors paid up to 32% supra the metal's marketplace terms past week, amidst rising golden values. Such elevated premiums exposure these investors to important risks should golden prices decline, the study noted.Trading information shows the SGB Feb 32 IV series, which was issued successful February 2024 with maturity successful February 2032, reached ₹15,266 connected NSE connected October 10, exceeding the spot golden terms by 26%. Similarly, the SGB Dec 31 III traded astatine ₹14,556 per gram, showing a 20% premium.
IBJA reported the spot golden terms astatine ₹12,085 per gram connected that day.

SGBs Trade astatine Premium
Experts enactment that retail investors judge these higher prices owed to benefits similar yearly involvement payments, lack of money absorption charges dissimilar communal funds, and tax-exempt superior gains astatine maturity. Plus, the authorities stopping issuance of caller SGBs has besides affected marketplace dynamics."Due to constricted supply, the interaction outgo goes up if determination is simply a ample purchase, pushing up prices," says Sandeep Raichura, CEO - retail broking & distribution, PL Capital.
He warns that a imaginable cooling successful golden enthusiasm could make difficulties successful secondary marketplace exits, perchance eliminating premiums and resulting successful losses."Retail Investors person had a bully acquisition with the earlier bid of SGBs. Since determination are nary caller issuances successful superior markets now, retail investors are drawn towards the secondary markets," said NS Ramaswamy, caput of commodities and CRM, Ventura Securities.
Should you bargain SGBs successful secondary markets?
Wealth managers urge thorough calculation earlier purchasing these bonds from the secondary market. Investors should measure the remaining tenure, involvement returns and premium costs anterior to making investments. Ramaswamy indicated that contiguous premium rates are excessive considering the fixed duration and debased liquidity of these instruments, cautioning that elevated premiums could diminish wide returns.The caller summation successful request is attributed to golden prices rising by 60% successful rupee presumption wrong a year. Emerging marketplace cardinal banks person been actively purchasing golden to trim their dependence connected US dollar reserves. Individual investors person besides started investing successful golden arsenic extortion against geopolitical uncertainties and trade-related concerns.Experts explicit reservations astir secondary marketplace SGB investments.
"You cannot stagger utilizing SIPs, determination is nary assurance of liquidity, and since the maximum tenure is lone 8 years, you cannot clasp them beyond maturity," said Pranab Uniyal, head, HDFC Tru, the wealthiness advisory limb of the HDFC group.According to Uniyal, golden ETFs are preferable owed to their superior liquidity and close terms reflection of the underlying metal. Several marketplace intermediaries person highlighted concerns astir SGB liquidity, cautioning investors astir imaginable difficulties successful achieving just worth exits successful the secondary market.
