This Diwali, most of the retail players have a reason to smile with sales growing between 50 to 80 per cent as compared to last year.

Trading sentiment turned better, as retail customers entered the market to make token purchases for the Diwali, while jewellers stocked up to meet the marriage season demand.

Gold has not failed to glitter this year on Dhanteras, which fell on Wednesday, despite the price of the yellow metal ruling at near- lifetime highs.

As gold prices rose Rs 75 to Rs 20,000 per 10 gram in the national capital, a level last seen on October 19, silver, too, spurted Rs 200 to its all-time high.

At the Multi Commodity Exchange counter, gold for delivery in April edged up Rs 52, to Rs 20,205 per 10 gram, with a business turnover of just one lot.

Silver prices zoomed to hit a new peak of Rs 37,500 per kg on sustained buying by retail customers for upcoming Diwali festival.

Marketmen said profit-booking at existing higher levels and concerns of a possible rate hike by the Reserve Bank of India early next month weighed on investor sentiment.

Fast-moving consumer goods firms are trying to lure customers with localised campaigns and localised items in their product portfolios.

While gold shot up Rs 225 to Rs 19,780 per ten grams, silver gained Rs 450 to Rs 36,100 per kg in the national capital, on increased offtake by industrial units.

Supported by firming trend overseas and pick up in spot demand, gold futures prices bounced back to trade 0.47 per cent higher at Rs 19,421 per ten gram on Friday.

Cars are being bought like there won't be any left and manufacturers are storming the market with launches to ensure that won't be the case.

In the Asian bullion markets, both the precious metals climbed to record levels, as dollar last week depreciated to its lowest level since January this year.

The precious metal had climbed to an all-time high of Rs 19,900 per 10 grams in the domestic markets last week, influenced by firm global prices.

Car sales continued to race ahead in September, as Indian auto makers posted double-digit growth for the fourth month in a row, on the back of buoyant demand. Numbers are expected to spurt further.

Industry experts said prices may go up by up to Rs 1,500 a tonne across products. On an average, steel prices are in the range of Rs 30,000-36,000 a tonne at present.

The next few months will provide a lot of opportunities for consumers to bargain as real estate firms try to clear their inventories that have built up in the past six to eight months.

It's the season to drive a hard bargain in the residential real estate sector as desperate builders offer discounts and freebies to clear their inventories.

Rising for the second straight session, the BSE 30-share barometer ended 72.20 points higher at 20,117.38 - its best finish since January 15, 2008.

At the Multi Commodity Exchange, silver for March shot up Rs173 to trade at an all-time high of Rs 32,707 perkg, with a business turnover of 194 lots.

Prices rose 0.11 per cent to hit new high of Rs 19,372 per 10 grams infutures trading, as speculators engaged in expanding theirpositions.