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After witnessing some profit booking due to volatility in global bond markets and a rally in Bitcoin prices, Gold June futures contracts at MCX opened flat with a positive bias at Rs 95,600/10 grams, at their 2-week high. The prices were higher by 0.07% or Rs 64.Additionally, silver July futures contracts also echoed a similar sentiment, opening slightly higher by Rs 255 or 0.26% at Rs 98,051/kg.On Thursday, gold and silver settled on a weaker note in the domestic and international markets. Gold June futures contract settled at Rs 95,536 per 10 grams with a loss of 0.07%, and silver July futures contract settled at Rs 97,796 per kilogram with a loss of 0.46%.Gold and silver showed very high volatility and gained in the early trading session but were unable to hold their gains amid profit taking from higher levels on Thursday, as volatility in the global bond markets and solid gains in Bitcoin gave reason to investors for profit booking in precious metals.The U.S. 20-year bond auction on Wednesday received lack luster response from investors, and after that, the U.S. 30-year bond yields surpassed 5.0% levels for the first time since October 2023. The Japanese 30-year bond yields also surged to record 3.18% levels on Thursday and increasing uncertainty in the global financial markets.“Weakness in the global equity and geopolitical tensions could continue to support safe-haven buying for precious metals,” said Manoj Kumar Jain of Prithvifinmart Commodity Research.“We expect gold and silver prices to remain volatile in today’s session amid volatility in the dollar index, volatility in the global bond markets and middle-east tensions; gold prices could hold its support level of $3,240 per troy ounce and silver prices could also hold $32.40 per troy ounce levels on a closing basis,” he added.Today, the US Dollar Index, DXY, was hovering near the 99.65 mark, falling 0.32 or 0.32%.How to trade gold?Manoj Kumar Jain suggested the following ranges for gold and silver on MCX:Gold has support at Rs 95,050-94600 and resistance at Rs 96,000-96,650 Silver has support at Rs 97,000-96,300 and resistance at Rs 98,500-99,300Jain suggests a buy-on-dips strategy for gold and silver amid higher volatility in the global financial markets.Gold’s trading range for today is Rs 94,600-96,650, and for silver at Rs 96,300-99,300.Gold rates in physical marketsGold Price today in DelhiStandard gold (22 carat) prices in Delhi stand at Rs 57,120/8 grams while pure gold (24 carat) prices stand at Rs 60,936/8 grams.Gold Price today in MumbaiStandard gold (22 carat) prices in Mumbai stand at Rs 56,960/8 grams while pure gold (24 carat) prices stand at Rs 60,696/8 grams.Gold Price today in ChennaiStandard gold (22 carat) prices in Chennai stand at Rs 56,736/8 grams while pure gold (24 carat) prices stand at Rs 60,528/8 grams.Gold Price today in HyderabadStandard gold (22 carat) prices in Hyderabad stand at Rs 56,744/8 grams while pure gold (24 carat) prices stand at Rs 60,496/8 grams.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

HFCL shares rose 3% to Rs 87 in intraday trade on Friday on the BSE after the telecom and defence equipment maker reported its Q4FY25 earnings. The company posted a net loss of Rs 81.4 crore, compared to a profit of Rs 110 crore in the same quarter last year, mainly due to weak demand for optical fibre cables (OFC).Revenue for the quarter declined 39.6% year-on-year to Rs 800.7 crore, from Rs 1,326 crore a year ago. EBITDA turned negative at Rs 36 crore, against a positive EBITDA of Rs 195.5 crore in the year-ago period.The board has approved a 10% dividend of Rs 0.10 per equity share for FY25, subject to shareholder approval at the upcoming annual general meeting.Despite financial challenges, HFCL Managing Director, Mahendra Nahata remained optimistic, "FY25 was a year of both strategic advancement and transitional challenges. While our financial performance was impacted by the downturn in optical fibre cable demand, margin pressure from newly-launched telecom products, and slower customer offtake in our EPC business, we remained focused on strengthening the foundations for long-term growth."Also Read: Adani vs Pakistan: One Indian company bigger than entire Pakistan! Harsh Goenka gives some statsHFCL expects strong revenue growth in FY26, supported by improving domestic and global demand for optical fibre and OFC.Nahata noted that the fibre manufacturing plant, which was operating at 45% capacity, is now running at full capacity. The OFC plant, previously at 40% utilisation, is expected to hit full capacity by July 2025.The company also expects contributions from the defence segment starting Q2FY26, amid growing interest in ground surveillance radar, electronic fuses, and a newly developed drone detection radar slated for production this year. HFCL recently secured a Rs 44.36-crore tactical cable order from the Indian Army through its subsidiary HTL Limited.With a strong order book and full capacity utilisation, HFCL is targeting 25–30% revenue growth in FY26.\Also read: Honasa Consumer shares skyrocket 12% on reporting 13% YoY revenue growth in Q4Additionally, HFCL has appointed Bhunvesh Sachdeva as Senior Vice President – International Sales for its communication products business, effective May 22, 2025, following the recommendation of the Nomination, Remuneration, and Compensation Committee.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times)

The US government, on Thursday, revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students, marking a significant escalation in its ongoing standoff with the Ivy League school. The decision, announced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Thursday, directly impacts nearly 6,800 foreign students and intensifies scrutiny over the university’s campus policies.Harvard’s official website states that between 500 to 800 Indian students and scholars are enrolled at the university each year. At present, the number stands at 788.What happens to students already on campus?International students currently enrolled at Harvard must transfer to another SEVP-certified university or risk losing their legal status in the US. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a letter that the university failed to comply with federal demands for records related to international students. Noem stated the university was “perpetuating an unsafe campus environment that is hostile to Jewish students, promotes pro-Hamas sympathies and employs racist ‘diversity, equity and inclusion’ policies.”I'm already a Harvard student. Will I be able to graduate?This revocation will take effect from the 2025–26 academic year. While students graduating this semester will be allowed to do so, others must now seek transfer options unless the decision is reversed or halted by a court. Noem added that Harvard can regain its Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification if it submits, within 72 hours, disciplinary records, protest-related footage, and documents detailing any unlawful activity by students over the past five years.Can the government control Harvard's enrolments?Harvard called the action unlawful and disruptive to its academic mission. “We are working quickly to provide guidance and support to members of our community,” a university spokesperson said.The US government controls who can enter the country. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) manages the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, which allows colleges to issue documents needed for foreign students to get visas to study in the US. Recently, DHS announced it would remove Harvard from this program, meaning Harvard can no longer provide these documents to international students. This action directly affects Harvard’s ability to enroll students from abroad.The DHS regulates the SEVP, which permits colleges to issue visa documents for international students. Without SEVP status, Harvard cannot support student visa applications. Typically, institutions are removed from SEVP for administrative reasons such as loss of accreditation or closure. This case, however, appears to be the first based on ideological and campus climate concerns. Why is Trump targetting Harvard?This development follows Harvard’s decision in April to reject federal directives aimed at curbing pro-Palestinian protests and dismantling DEI initiatives. Since then, multiple US agencies, including DHS and the National Institutes of Health, have frozen over $2.6 billion in research funding. In response, Harvard has taken legal action to challenge the funding blocks and defend its governance policies.President Donald Trump has also called for revoking Harvard’s tax-exempt status — a move that could significantly disrupt the university’s ability to attract philanthropic donations.The US administration has hinted that similar measures could be applied to other universities. “This should be a warning to every other university to get your act together,” Noem said during an interview with Fox News.Beyond Harvard, the ban has broader implications for the Massachusetts economy. International students not only pay higher tuition but also contribute to local businesses and often remain in the state’s healthcare and research sectors post-graduation.While Harvard prepares for a prolonged legal battle, thousands of international students face immediate uncertainty. The case signals a new phase in how US immigration policies intersect with campus governance and academic freedom.