Mumbai, Aug 28: Gold prices in India continued their downward trend on Friday, extending losses for the fourth consecutive trading session amid sustained selling pressure in the precious metal.

On the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX), gold futures for October delivery declined by Rs 896, or 0.56 per cent, to trade at Rs 1,58,100 per 10 grams. During the session, prices fell as much as 0.68 per cent, or Rs 1,085, to touch an intraday low of Rs 1,57,911 per 10 grams.

With Friday’s decline, gold prices have fallen by Rs 5,318, or 3.25 per cent, over the past four trading sessions on the MCX, reflecting continued pressure on the yellow metal.

In the international market, gold prices also remained under pressure as investors awaited a speech by US Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh at the Jackson Hole symposium. Market participants are closely watching signals from the US central bank on the future course of interest rates, which could influence demand for gold.

Spot gold declined 0.5 per cent to $4,576.30 an ounce after touching a more than three-month high earlier this week. US gold futures were also down 0.8 per cent at $4,629 an ounce.

Experts said that the recent weakness in gold prices comes after a strong rally earlier in the week, with investors now assessing the outlook for US monetary policy and its potential impact on the dollar, bond yields and demand for the safe-haven asset.

“Immediate resistance is at Rs 1,59,500 – Rs 1,60,000, followed by Rs 1,62,000 – Rs 1,62,500. Immediate support is at Rs 1,57,600 – Rs 1,57,000, followed by Rs 1,55,500 – Rs 1,55,000. RSI at 60.93 remains in positive territory but has declined sharply from the overbought region, signalling a cooling of momentum,” an analyst said.

New Delhi, Aug 27: Despite the growing weight of artificial intelligence (AI) in corporate strategy, 57 per cent of office occupiers in India said it has no material impact on their leasing decisions, a report said on Thursday.

The report from CBRE South Asia said about 93 per cent of over 200 occupiers surveyed are at some stage of AI implementation, but roughly 59 per cent remain in early or exploratory phases testing proofs‑of‑concept and mapping systemic changes before committing capital or restructuring physical assets.

AI is at an advanced or scaled adoption stage for a third of the cohort, driving immediate changes in how talent is deployed and physical workspaces are utilised, the report said.

While a majority do not expect immediate changes to leasing strategies, occupiers are likely to prioritise high‑quality workplaces that support talent attraction, innovation and advanced technology needs, the report added.

A large proportion of organisations are likely to plan their real estate decisions based on their workforce dynamics and business impact of their AI strategies.

Meanwhile, a section of occupiers anticipated AI creating new opportunities for workforce growth as organisations scale emerging capabilities and technology-led functions.

“While AI adoption is becoming increasingly widespread, business maturity and the pace of deployment will ultimately determine its impact on workforce requirements and, consequently, future leasing decisions,” said Anshuman Magazine, Chairman and CEO-India, South-East Asia, Middle East and Africa, CBRE.

“As organisations continue to transition from experimentation to scaled implementation, the implications for headcount, workplace strategies, and space demand are likely to evolve over time,” he added,

Ram Chandnani, Managing Director, Leasing Services, India, CBRE said that the flight-to-quality trend remains firmly intact, with premium workplaces continuing to play a critical role in attracting and retaining talent.

“In effect, AI is influencing the type of space occupiers seek well before it alters the quantum of space they require,” he added.

Ahmedabad, Aug 27: Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel returned to Ahmedabad on Thursday after completing a nine-day visit to the United States and Canada aimed at attracting global investment and promoting the 2027 Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, saying companies across key sectors had shown interest in investing in the state.

Patel was welcomed at Ahmedabad airport by Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and senior state government officials following his visit from August 17 to 26.

The overseas outreach focussed on investors, technology leaders, entrepreneurs and the Gujarati diaspora in San Francisco, Washington, DC, New York and Toronto.

Speaking to reporters after his return, Patel said the state government’s objective was to ensure that a larger share of investment coming into India was directed towards Gujarat.

“We have witnessed the impact of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s global relationships and the trust he enjoys during this visit. Because of the complete trust people have in the Prime Minister, investors are keen to make greater investments across various sectors,” he said.

Patel said the delegation had held meetings with major companies and investors in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, data centres and manufacturing, as well as financial companies in connection with GIFT City.

He said the response to the meetings had been encouraging. “Many companies are enthusiastic about investing in Gujarat. Very good investment will come to Gujarat,” he said.

The visit was undertaken as part of Gujarat’s preparations for the 11th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, which is scheduled to be held from January 10 to 12, 2027.

During the overseas programme, global investors, technology leaders and innovators were invited to participate in investment, collaboration and partnership opportunities at the summit.

The delegation also engaged with members of the Gujarati diaspora. In Canada, Patel met entrepreneurs and business representatives and invited the community to invest in Gujarat and participate in the forthcoming summit.

The delegation was led by Patel and Chief Secretary M.K. Das. It included Additional Chief Secretary of Finance Department, T. Natarajan; Additional Chief Secretary of Industries and Mines Department, Mamta Verma; Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sanjeev Kumar; and Additional Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Dr Vikrant Pandey.

Representatives of Gujarat’s industrial and business community also accompanied the delegation.

The meetings were held with investors, technology leaders, young entrepreneurs, innovators and members of the Gujarati diaspora across the three US cities and Toronto.

Discussions covered investment opportunities and partnerships in emerging technologies and industrial sectors, with the state also seeking participation from international companies in the 2027 summit.

After the delegation returned to Gujarat, senior officials gathered at Ahmedabad airport to welcome Patel, Das and other members of the delegation.