GOLD

Gold hit its second new record high on the trot at the London Gold Fix on Thursday morning, hitting $1441.25 per ounce for US investors as the Dollar held flat on the forex market, and US crude oil rose.

U.S. stocks advanced in early trade on Thursday after official data showed that applications for jobless benefits fell more than expected last week, recording a drop for a second consecutive week.

US stocks defied odds on Wednesday to close slightly positive. The S&P 500 index climbed 3.77 points, or 0.29 percent, to close at 1,297.54. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied 67.39 points, or 0.56 percent, to end at 12,086.02. The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.54 percent.

Japan, which is grappling with the impact of March 11 earthquake and the resultant tsunami, may be pushed towards a recession, an expert told IBTimes.

U.S. stocks staged an afternoon rally Wednesday, led by materials companies, though investors continued to eye several overseas trouble spots warily.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 89 points, or 0.7%, to 12108 in late afternoon trade, led by Alcoa, which rose 3.3%. The gains were kept in check by a 1.5% decline for Bank of America, which said the Federal Reserve didn't allow it to boost its dividend. Wal-Mart Stores also was weak, falling 0.8%, as was DuPont, down 0.4%.

The Gold Price rose sharply against all major currencies on Wednesday, touching near-two-week highs against the Dollar even as the US currency rose amid fresh European debt and budget concerns.

U.S. stocks extended their losses on Wednesday after official data showed that sales of single-family houses in the US fell unexpectedly in February.

In spite of the crippling sanctions and an arms embargo approved by the international community, Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi continued to show resistance and the possible reason for such confidence could 144 tons of gold that he still controls.

U.S. stocks declined in early trade on Wednesday as renewed concerns over the euro zone’s sovereign debt crisis and higher than expected rebuilding costs in Japan weighed on the sentiment.

U.S. stocks pulled back in a sleepy session Tuesday as investors paused after a three day rally that helped the market regain ground after several weeks dominated by unrest in the Middle East and Japan's earthquake.

US stocks wavered between small gains and losses in early trade on Tuesday as investors watched with caution geopolitical developments in Japan and Libya.

The Euro price of Gold Bullion today slipped back to last week's finish just below €32,000 per kilo - reversing Monday's 1.0% rise - as the single currency hit new 6-month highs to the Dollar above $1.4240.

U.S. stocks surged on Monday as sentiment was buoyed after Japan made progress in its battle to control radiation leaks at a crippled plant, and AT&T announced that it will buy T-Mobile USA from German company Deutsche Telekom to create the largest mobile provider in the United States.

Gold prices rose for a fifth straight day on Tuesday, driven by safe haven demand amid continued uncertainty in the Middle East and the nuclear crisis in Japan.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed back above 12000, boosted by a major telecommunications deal and a jump in energy stocks as oil prices leapt.

Gold prices jumped vs. a falling Dollar at the start of Asian trade on Monday, hitting near-two-week highs for US investors as crude oil also leapt following the weekend's joint UN air strikes on Libya.

US stocks ended higher on Friday as sentiment was buoyed after Libya announced a cease-fire and the Group of Seven (G-7) Finance ministers agreed to intervene in the markets to stabilize the Japanese yen.

U.S. stocks climbed higher Friday, as fears of increased violence in Libya ebbed and currency interventions helped to relieve investor worries over Japan's economy.

Prices to Buy Gold rose above $1418 per ounce Friday lunchtime in London, reversing this week's earlier 2.4% drop as crude oil fell and world stock markets rose further after news of an immediate cease-fire by the Gaddafi regime in Libya, prompted by the United Nations' no fly zone agreement.

US stocks advanced in early trade on Friday after the Group of Seven (G-7) Finance ministers had agreed to intervene in the markets to stabilize the Japanese yen.

U.S. stocks rallied on Thursday, bouncing back from three straight days of losses as better-than-expected reports on jobless claims and Consumer Price Index (CPI) buoyed sentiment, and FedEx Corp. boosted its profit forecast.