National Stock Exchange (NSE) recorded highest-ever traded value of virtual gold on the auspicious occasion of Dhanteras, though the volume sold remained 20-25 per cent less than previous year.

The total traded volume in the Gold Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) on the stock exchanges set new records, while the NSE enjoyed a growth of 110 per cent in traded value as compared with the previous year.

The NSE recorded the total traded value of the Gold ETFs at Rs 1,337 crore, while the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) reported a total turnover of Rs 894.55 crore on the auspicious occasion.

Sanjay Banerjee, president of Gitanjali Lifestyle, said that people were increasingly turning towards gold coins and bars.

Speaking on the topic, Banerjee said, "The kind of dull and subdued market that we had expected did not happen with the sales remaining robust especially in the northern region of India where Dhanteras is an important event in the calendar."

He added that people showed inclination towards high end gold jewellery and gold coins and bars, while high workmanship charges showed a dropping trend.

Luxury retailer Gitanjali Lifestyle operates more than 1,200 retail stores across the country.

Silver merchants did brisk business on Dhanteras selling lakshmi coins, antique coins, silver utensils and silver bars, thanks to near all-time high prices of gold.