For Indian investors, gold has long been the go-to during global tremors. And in recent years, it certainly delivered. Over the past decade, gold in India appreciated at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.8%, comfortably outpacing the BSE Sensex’s 11.4% return.
But the tide appears to be turning.
Since April 2020, the Sensex has surged 136%, overtaking gold’s 116.2% rise in the same five-year period. In a market that loves its favourites, this reversal is making investors rethink where the real shine lies.
Analysts say gold’s recent rally isn’t about fundamentals—it’s about fear. With global tensions simmering and little headway in tariff talks between the US and China, investors have been parking their funds in safe-haven assets.
"The rally is largely driven by geopolitical uncertainty and the absence of any constructive progress in tariff talks," said Jateen Trivedi of LKP Securities. Until there's a clear sign of de-escalation, gold could stay buoyant.
That said, Indian equities aren’t exactly playing second fiddle. The Sensex has grown from 4,658 in April 2000 to 79,596 as on April 22, clocking a steady CAGR of 12%.
Despite short-term volatility, the market’s long-term performance keeps drawing interest.
While investors weigh gold and stocks, telcos are grappling with a different kind of spectrum—literally.
The 26GHz band (known as the millimetre wave or mmWave band) had its moment of glory during the 2022 spectrum auctions, when nearly 72% of the band on offer attracted bids. Its appeal? Blazing fast data speeds and ultra-low latency—ideal for dense urban centres and enterprise-grade wireless setups.
But in the 2024 auctions, the enthusiasm cooled off. Why? Possibly because the band’s short range limits its usefulness outside urban zones, making it less attractive for widespread 5G deployment.
Bharti Airtel, one of the major bidders back in 2022, seems to have adjusted its strategy. Since June, the telco has been deploying its mid-band spectrum—namely 2100MHz and 2300MHz—across India to address growing 5G traffic.
These bands strike a better balance between coverage and capacity, making them more suitable for mass rollouts.