Mumbai: Country’s top two exchanges BSE and NSE recorded a total turnover of over 2,200 crore in gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on Dhanteras — an auspicious occasion for gold buying as per Hindu tradition — on November 11.

The total traded value of gold ETF on the NSE stood at a record value of 1,337 crore, while the BSE recorded a turnover of 894.55 crore, the two exchanges said separately.

Dhanteras is considered an auspicious day to buy precious metals like gold and the exchanges held a special trading session on November 11.

Gold ETFs track gold prices and each unit of these ETFs is generally calculated at the rate of one gm of the metal. It carries advantage like 99.5 percent purity assurance over physical gold.

In terms of volume, the number of gold ETF units traded went up by 81 percent to 4,441 kg on the NSE over the same day last year, the exchange said.

BSE’s total traded volumes in the segment surged by 1,391 percent over last year to 894.49 crore on the occasion in 2012.

Over the last decade, gold investments have been one of the best performing asset classes moving from about 4,000 per 10 gm to over 30,000 on November 12.

“And during this time the rupee has depreciated against all major currencies. One of the reasons gold prices remain firm is that it is a limited resource and cannot be printed like paper currency,” Religare Securities president (retail distribution) Jayant Manglik said.

The exchanges conducted a special trading session in gold ETF’s between 11:00 hrs and 15:30 hrs on November 11. The special session was organised to give an opportunity to investors to invest in gold.

Besides, the bourses had also waived off the transaction charges for all trades in gold ETFs to cash in on the investor demand.