GOLD

Sarah Ferguson, Obamas and Sarkozys will not be attending

Gold inched up on Monday, adding to a weekly gain of nearly 3 percent last week as fears over a European debt crisis and growing unrest in the Middle East underpinned investor sentiment.

Protesters in Bahrain appeared to gain the initiative on Saturday and mourners buried their dead in western Libya as the wave of protest washing across the Arab world tested more of the region's longtime rulers.

U.S. stocks rose Friday, marking the third straight week of market gains, as investors warily watch continuing unrest in the Middle East and North Africa, along with the start of a two-day meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bankers in Paris.

Silver Prices today jumped to fresh 31-year highs at $32.84 per ounce, outpacing the rise in gold prices more than 3 times over since the two metals turned sharply higher three weeks ago.

US stocks rose modestly higher on Friday, with S&P 500 Index up 2.52 points, or 0.19 percent, to trade at 1,342.98 at 12:00 p.m. EST. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 42.16 points, or 0.34 percent, to trade at 12,360.30. The Nasdaq Composite Index rose 0.23 percent to trade at 2,837.98.

Record high gold prices are boosting the earnings and valuations of Gold Mining companies. Around 20 of the biggest gold producers represent approximately 60% of global corporate gold production: 30 million fine ounces, netting $40 billion in annual revenue.

US stocks were mixed on Friday, with S&P 500 Index edging down 0.27 points, or 0.02 percent, to trade at 1,340.21 at 09:50 a.m. EST. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 14.04 points, or 0.11 percent, to trade at 12,332.18. The Nasdaq Composite Index rose 0.07 percent to trade at 2,833.52.

Gold hit five-week highs in Europe on Friday and silver its strongest since 1980 as growing unrest in the Middle East lifted interest in precious metals, though another reserve requirement hike from China curbed gains.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke’s prepared remarks at the Banque de France Financial Stability Review Launch Event, Paris, France, Feb. 18, 2011

U.S. stocks finished at fresh multi-year high on Thursday as improved corporate earnings and manufacturing data overshadowed a bigger than expected rise in the number of people applying for unemployment benefits.

U.S. stocks finished at fresh multi-year high on Thursday as improved corporate earnings and manufacturing data overshadowed a bigger than expected rise in the number of people applying for unemployment benefits.

U.S. stocks finished at fresh multi-year high on Thursday as improved corporate earnings and manufacturing data overshadowed a bigger than expected rise in the number of people applying for unemployment benefits.

You can't really blame financial hacks for getting things so wrong, so often. Because every financial decision you now make is a speculation on interest rates. And so pretty much every story a financial journalist might choose to write must start and end with the same speculation, built on the inaction of each monthly central-bank vote.

The price of large, wholesale Gold Bars continued rising for US investors on Thursday, ending London trade at a 5-week high of $1383 per ounce as world stock markets held flat and the Dollar slipped on the currency market.

Unrest spread across the Middle East and North Africa on Thursday as Bahrain launched a swift military crackdown on anti-government protesters and clashes were reported in Libya and Yemen.

Gold rose for a fourth day in a row on Thursday in its strongest run since September, helped by safe-haven demand as unrest spread across the Middle East, while the dollar remained under mild pressure.

Even as precious metal investors seem to be taken in by the superior performance of silver over gold, some analysts have raised the voice of caution, saying gold will soon outperform silver.

US stocks declined in early trade on Thursday after official data showed that weekly jobless claims unexpectedly rose last week while Consumer Price Index (CPI) climbed more than forecast in January.

U.S. Stocks climbed on Wednesday, supported by some solid earnings reports and a number or M&A deal-making, as the Dow and S&P 500 reached 31-month highs.

It was announced that Lohan would appear on David Letterman's TV talk show. It was later announced by producers of The Late Show with David Letterman that the troubled actress would not appear on the show because a mistake had been made.