Gold prices advanced further in Asian trade Friday after equity markets fall down on global economic uncertainty.

Gold for immediate delivery was seen trading at $1244.45 an ounce at 11.30 a.m Singapore time while August gold was at $1245.92 an ounce on Comex division of the NY Mercantile Exchange.

Meanwhile, ETF holdings rose to another record at 1,316.177 tones as of June 24 from the previous high of 1,313.135 tones set on June 22.

Analysts said investors were also looking to the Group of 20 summit this weekend in Toronto, where leaders from rich and developing nations will discuss how to plot the world's emergence from the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.

On Thursday, gold gained nearly 1 percent towards $1,250 as U.S. stocks tumbled but was still below a record high above hit $1,264 on Monday.

August gold rose by $11.10 to settle at $1,245.90 per fine ounce on the Comex division of the NY Mercantile Exchange.

July silver rose 27.7 cents to $18.736 an ounce and July copper lifted by seven cents to settle at $3.0055 per pound.

Copper rose on Thursday as investors took note of improved demand signals, including falling jobless benefit claims and rising orders for durable goods in the United States, the world's biggest economy.

Gold