PTI

New Delhi, Oct 19: Gold shot up to a 17-month high of Rs 10,000 per ten grams on the bullion market today on heavy seasonal demand amid funds getting diverted from crashing stock markets.

Earlier, the precious metal had traded at Rs 10,050 per ten gram on May 24, 2006, on the back of weakening dollar. The dollar-priced metal normally moves in opposite direction to the dollar.

Gold, which remained on a rising spree on hectic buying by jewellery fabricators and stockists to meet current festival and marriage season demand, gathered momentum as more funds poured in from weakening stock markets and rose by Rs 135.

The support was across the board as investors were left with no other option after the dollar fell to a record low, crude oil surged to record $90 a barrel and stock markets crashed in the last three straight trading sessions.

The precious metal's rise in the global markets, which normally set the price trend in domestic markets, also remained a boosting factor. Gold in the US markets surged to $772, a 17-months high as the dollar hit a record low against euro.

Marketmen said some of the funds were shifting from crashing stock markets in the country after SEBI proposed to curb the investments made by unregistered investors, including hedge funds, in Indian stock markets.

Standard gold and ornaments shot up by Rs 135 each at Rs 10,000 and Rs 9,850 per ten gram respectively, while sovereign rose by Rs 50 at Rs 7,975 per piece of eight gram.

Silver ready rose by Rs 160 at Rs 18,400 per kilo on local buying while weekly-based delivery shot up by Rs 310 at Rs 18,500 per kilo on speculative support.

Silver coins, normally used as a gift in marriages and for puja on Diwali, rose by Rs 100 at Rs 24,400 for buying and Rs 24,500 for selling of 100 pieces.