ET NEWS

Aditya Birla Group company UltaTech Cements has released its results for the quarter ended September 2025, posting an impressive surge of 75.2% YoY to Rs 1,232 crore, while its net sales were up 21.3% YoY.The net sales were posted at Rs 19,371 crore in Q2FY26, versus Rs 15,967 crore in the same quarter last year.UltraTech Cement reported a robust 22.3% growth in domestic grey cement sales during the September 2025 quarter, excluding contributions from its newly acquired India Cements and Kesoram assets, which were not part of the company in the year-ago period.This performance far exceeded the industry average growth of around 5%, underscoring UltraTech’s strong market position and operational execution.The company benefited from a 7% year-on-year decline in energy costs, though raw material expenses rose 5% due to higher prices of flyash and slag. For its existing operations, operating EBITDA per ton stood at Rs 966, based on a capacity of 166.76 mtpa.The recently acquired assets of India Cements and Kesoram generated operating EBITDA of Rs 386 per ton and Rs 755 per ton, respectively. Integration progress has been swift, with 55% of Kesoram’s volumes and 31% of India Cements’ volumes already transitioned under the UltraTech brand.“UltraTech’s expansion program is progressing as scheduled, with the Company continuously enhancing its production capabilities. UltraTech’s domestic grey cement capacity is 186.86 mtpa, on a consolidated basis. Together with its overseas capacity of 5.4 mtpa, the Company’s global capacity stands at 192.26 mtpa. UltraTech also migrated to the GST 2.0 framework effective September 22, 2025, ensuring that customers receive the full benefit of the reduction in GST rates,” the company said while commenting on its capacity expansion.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

Dhanteras, an auspicious occasion during Diwali, has long been associated with buying gold and silver as a symbol of prosperity and good fortune. While the tradition of purchasing physical gold and silver continues, an increasing number of investors are opting for financial alternatives such as Gold Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) or Silver Exchange- Traded Funds (ETFs). These instruments provide convenient exposure to the precious metals without the challenges of storing or managing physical gold and silver.ETMutualFunds looked at the performance of gold ETFs and silver ETFs since last Dhanteras dated October 29,2024 and found that gold ETFs have offered upto 64% return with an average return of 63.11% whereas silver ETFs have offered upto 72% return with an average return of 69.05%.Also Read | Gold vs Silver: Which one deserves a place in your portfolio this Diwali?There were 17 gold ETFs in the said time period, of which HDFC Gold ETF gave the highest return of around 63.89% and Groww Gold ETF gave the lowest return of around 62.29% since the last Dhanteras celebrated on October 29, 2024.On the other hand, there were 21 silver ETFs of which ICICI Pru Silver ETF gave the highest return of 72.13% and Kotak Silver ETF FoF gave the lowest return of around 63.84% in the same time period.According to a report by ETMarkets, Gold has seen a significant run-up over the past year. As per market data, the price of gold increased from Rs 78,840 per 10 grams on Dhanteras 2024 to Rs 1,28,200 by Dhanteras 2025, yielding an annual return of 63% in INR terms and 53% in USD. Silver has also witnessed a stellar surge since the last Dhanteras.With the current rally in precious metals, should one go for gold or silver ETFs now in their portfolios? According to experts, upside potential is still there in the precious metals and a small correction in the short term cannot be ruled out.“We believe that both Gold and Silver has more upside but correction in both the commodities in the short term cannot be ruled out. Investor should invest in a staggered manner and take advantage of any drawdowns. Investor should also manage their expectations from these 2 commodities going forward,” Siddharth Srivastava, Head - ETF Product & Fund Manager at Mirae Asset Investment Managers (India) shared with ETMutualFunds.While recommending to go for a staggered investment approach in gold from current levels to get benefits from any price correction, Tapan Patel, Fund Manager - Commodities at Tata Asset Management told ETMutualFunds that, “Gold and silver prices have witnessed rallies of approx 60% and 80% respectively in CYTD 2025.(Bloomberg) The market fundamentals are still supportive for gold and silver going forward despite some of the factors that have been priced in.”Also Read | Diwali 2025: Mutual fund categories that can brighten your portfolio“For silver investment, investors may wait for market stability from the current high premium market. Investors may look to enter with a staggered manner once the spot market stabilizes,” Patel adds.Experts always recommend having 10-15% in precious metals in their respective portfolios. Gold and silver funds are used for portfolio diversification. If you have a large portfolio, you can earmark a small percentage of the total portfolio (advisors say around 10%) to invest in gold and/or silver. If you are starting out or you have a very small portfolio, you can give it a miss. Investors should remember that these funds won't offer you greater returns year after year. They are supposed to offer you diversification and add stability to your portfolio.Patel of Tata Mutual Fund recommends that the current global market fundamentals depict high uncertainties which may fuel risk premium in precious metals and investors may look for optimum asset allocation as per their risk profile with at least 10% allocation to gold and 5% to silver investment.On the other hand, Srivastava from Mirae Asset Investment Managers (India) recommends that any allocation in precious metals should be from a long term point of view. “While silver may have more upside, gold is also expected to perform well with possibly lower drawdowns. If you have a lower risk appetite, have higher allocation towards Gold,” Srivastava recommends.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)If you have any mutual fund queries, message on ET Mutual Funds on Facebook/Twitter. We will get it answered by our panel of experts. Do share your questions on ETMFqueries@timesinternet.in alongwith your age, risk profile, and twitter handle.

As the five-day Diwali festival begins with Dhanteras, the day holds immense significance for millions of Indians who view it as the most auspicious time to purchase gold and silver.Celebrated on the Trayodashi Tithi (13th day) of Krishna Paksha in the Hindu month of Kartik, Dhanteras is marked by prayers to Lord Kuber and Goddess Laxmi, symbols of wealth and prosperity.According to Hindu belief, acquiring precious metals on this day is not just a tradition, but a way of inviting good fortune and abundance into one’s life.Dhanteras is more than just a shopping occasion. It signals the onset of Diwali and sets the tone for the festive spirit. Markets across the country witness a surge in footfall, as families come together to invest in gold, silver, and other valuables.From traditional coins and jewelry to digital gold and ETFs, the modern Indian investor has an array of options to align both spiritual sentiment and financial prudence. With the price of gold having steadily risen over the past year, many are eager to know not only the best time to buy but also the safest and most effective ways to invest.Here’s a detailed look at the most auspicious muhurat for buying gold this Dhanteras, followed by a guide to various gold investment avenues, and finally, the outlook for gold beyond the festival.Auspicious Time to Buy Gold on Dhanteras 2025Dhanteras in 2025 falls on October 18. According to the Hindu calendar, Trayodashi Tithi begins at 12:18 PM and ends at 01:51 PM the same day. Within this window lies the most spiritually significant time to make purchases, particularly during:Dhanteras Puja Muhurat: October 18, from 07:15 PM to 08:19 PMPradosh Kaal: 05:48 PM to 08:19 PMVrishabha Kaal: 07:15 PM to 09:11 PMApart from these, Choghadiya timings, considered highly favorable, also suggest multiple good windows for purchase:Afternoon Muhurat (Chara, Labha, Amrita): 12:18 PM to 04:23 PMEvening Muhurat (Labha): 05:48 PM to 07:23 PMNight Muhurat (Shubha, Amrita, Chara): October 19, 08:57 PM to 01:41 AMEarly Morning Muhurat (Labha): October 19, 04:50 AM to 06:24 AMPurchases on October 19 are also considered auspicious until 01:51 PM, with favorable Choghadiya slots from 07:50 AM to 12:06 PM and 01:31 PM to 01:51 PM.How Can Investors Buy Gold This Dhanteras?While traditional purchases of gold jewelry, coins, and silverware dominate the festive landscape, retail investors today have a wide variety of financial instruments to participate in the gold rally without the burden of storage or high capital outlay.Here are the main avenues for gold investment:Gold ETFs: Gold Exchange-Traded Funds offer high liquidity, ease of trading, and transparency. Funds like SPDR GLD provide exposure to gold prices without needing to own physical gold.Digital Gold: This allows micro-investments in gold, often starting with as little as one rupee. Investors can accumulate 24K gold stored in insured vaults through digital platforms.Gold Mutual Funds: These funds invest in gold ETFs and are ideal for those without a demat account. They offer professional management and are accessible via SIPs or lump sums.Physical Gold: Coins and bars remain popular during Dhanteras for their cultural and emotional value. Buyers usually opt for certified dealers either online or offline.Futures and Options: More suited for experienced investors, gold futures and options traded on platforms like MCX provide leveraged exposure to price movements.Gold Mining stocks: Investors seeking potentially higher returns may consider shares in gold mining companies. However, these carry higher risks due to volatility.Gold Outlook Beyond Dhanteras 2025Gold has seen a significant run-up over the past year. As per market data, the price of gold increased from Rs 78,840 per 10 grams on Dhanteras 2024 to Rs 1,28,200 by Dhanteras 2025, yielding an annual return of 63% in INR terms and 53% in USD.Analyst reports suggest:The next potential resistance levels are between Rs 1,30,000 and Rs 1,35,000, with support around Rs 1,20,000.On COMEX, gold is projected to trade between $4,250 and $4,500 per ounce in the near term.Longer-term forecasts hint at an uncharted rise towards $5,000 per ounce or Rs 1,50,000 per 10 grams by 2026.According to analysts from Motilal Oswal and Ventura Securities, while short-term corrections cannot be ruled out, sustained prices above all-time highs could indicate continued bullish momentum in gold.As Dhanteras 2025 arrives with strong cultural sentiment and robust financial indicators, investors, whether traditional buyers or market participants, have a wide window and numerous instruments to consider.Also read: Silver's great disconnect: MCX prices soar but ETFs crash 8%. What's really happening?(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)