KARACHI: Yellow metal prices sustained a firm trend on the back of improved demand and hedging in the domestic and international metal market, metal traders reported. Following an increase by around $3 per ounce to $1,285 an ounce in the international bullion market, the domestic prices, according to gold dealers, recorded a rise of Rs 22 per ten grams to Rs 43,232 per ten grams. In tola terms, gold price increased by Rs 26 per tola to stay at Rs 50,372 per tola. Similarly, gold prices in Lahore stood at Rs 43,145 per ten grams, in Hyderabad they remained at Rs 43,044 per ten grams and in Lahore it stood at around Rs 43,105 per ten grams, they added. Humayun Ahmad Mani, a gold dealer, attributed the hike in gold prices to the investment and demand by strong investors and short supply fears on global tension. He said oil prices were soaring on fears of threat from some countries in the international market, the investors had to allocate money to sectors that would make money; either in stocks or in the bullion market. Mr Mani said goldsmiths and the jewellery sector kept them away from hefty buying. However, general buyers remained on the sidelines anticipating an ease in the price in the coming days on a dollar-rupee parity. Buyers made deals according to their immediate needs. Local trading in gold remained dull on the back of insignificant buying. Local dealers said the domestic gold prices decline/rise is in line with the trend of global gold markets. However, the increase is usually not as much as takes place internationally because people stop buying the metal when prices are too high.