New Delhi

Gold prices are likely to keep climbing toward USD 5,000 per ounce amid ongoing global market volatility, says Sadaf Sayeed, CEO of Muthoot Microfin, one of India’s leading microfinance institutions.

In an interview with ANI, Sayeed emphasized that gold remains a preferred hedge against uncertainty. “Gold is widely used worldwide to safeguard against market volatility. With continuous global developments and unpredictability, people naturally turn to gold,” she explained.

The CEO noted that several banks anticipate gold could touch the USD 5,000 mark, driven by sustained demand amid persistent global instability.

Silver and commodity trends

Addressing silver, Sayeed said that commodity prices are shaped by both demand and supply constraints. “Some countries have limited the export of precious metals and other commodities. When scarcity exists alongside strong demand, prices tend to rise,” she added. While silver has already recorded notable gains, further increases will largely depend on supply conditions.

Microfinance sector growth

Sayeed also shared updates on Muthoot Microfin’s performance. Despite a challenging previous year for the industry, the company is projecting 15% growth for the current financial year. “Quarterly disbursements are steadily increasing. We expect total disbursements to reach around ₹10,000 crores this year, with quarter-on-quarter growth of 10–15%,” she said.

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Looking ahead to the upcoming budget, Sayeed highlighted liquidity as the sector’s key requirement. She called for a credit guarantee scheme to enable banks to fund NBFC-MFIs more freely, ensuring better access to finance at the grassroots level.

The CEO also suggested establishing a refinancing mechanism for microfinance, similar to the facility provided by the National Housing Bank for housing finance companies. “A dedicated refinancing window for microfinance could significantly strengthen the sector,” she said.