Gold futures on the Multi Commodity Exchange were trading higher by 0.51 per cent at Rs 26,039 per 10 grams at 1.05 pm on Wednesday.
August contract opened higher at Rs 26,052 against the previous close of Rs 25,907. It made a high of Rs 26,150 and low of Rs 26,022.
In Comex, the yellow metal for August delivery was down by $6 at $1,237 a troy ounce at 1.05 pm.
Covering-up of short positions by speculators at the prevailing levels also influenced the gold futures prices here, traders said.
On the Multi Commodity Exchange, gold for delivery in August gained Rs 149 or 0.58 per cent to trade at Rs 26,056 per 10 gm in a turnover of 1,047 lots.
Similarly, the metal for delivery in far-month October edged up by Rs 139 or 0.53 per cent to Rs 26,161 per 10 gm, clocking a business volume of 27 lots.
Analysts attributed the gains to a firm trend overseas as physical gold purchases continue to increase at lower prices.
Globally, the yellow metal rose as much as 0.22 per cent to $1,245.10 an ounce in Singapore today.