KARACHI: Domestic and international gold prices averted any big fall in value after short period buying on Gold Futures speculation on short and long term investment. Yellow metal closed at Rs 55,817 per tola, meagerly a dip of Rs 99 per tola by the end of trade primarily due to international prices of the yellow metal which closed at $1,288 with $1 decline. In grammage term, metal closed at Rs 47,905 per ten grams, down by Rs 85 per gram. Rise/fall in prices of gold globally largely depends on fluctuation in international crude oil prices. It is also having an impact on local bullion prices. However, the escalation or decline of gold prices in local markets is not proportionate with the international markets, because demand for gold declines here whenever the yellow metal becomes dearer globally. The rates might go considerably up from next week when full-fledged trading would start. Gold was trading in the local markets at cheaper rates than Dubai and Saudi Arabia, where people have purchasing power. Here the purchasing power of general public has fallen, so they don’t buy gold when it gets expensive because it is not an essential item. Published in Daily Times, May 19th 2018.