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Gold prices held steady Friday as investors stood on the sidelines ahead of a key U.S. payrolls report due later in the day

Gold prices slipped a bit Thursday as a stronger dollar and signs that the U.S. economy is growing and avoiding a double-dip recession.

Gold prices recovered some early losses on Thursday after European stock markets fell, snapping a three-day rally, and as investors weighed up the prospect of a fresh round of quantitative easing from the U.S. Federal Reserve.

Australia's Adamus Resources said on Thursday it expects a friendly takeover by Canada's Endeavour Mining Corp to be completed in early November, creating a West Africa-focused company producing a quarter million ounces of gold annually by 2013.

Gold's high price spurs private individuals to sell jewelry and other personal items made of the yellow metal.

Gold prices jumped 2 percent Tuesday and silver surged 2.1 percent as some investors opted for the safety of precious metals and Treasuries amid continued worries about Europe's sovereign debt crisis and weakness in the American economy.

Silver and gold prices rose Tuesday, lifting share prices of companies that mine the precious metals and underscoring just how tentative the U.S. economy is.

Gold regained strength on Tuesday as bargain hunting resurfaced after prices dropped more than 2 percent in the previous session, but higher equities and easing worries about recession in the United States could limit gains.

Gold regained strength Tuesday as bargain hunting resurfaced after prices dropped more than 2 percent in the previous session, but higher equities and easing U.S. recession fears could limit gains.

Mexico-focused miner AuRico Gold (AUQ.TO: Quote) has offered to buy Northgate Minerals (NGX.TO: Quote) for C$1.46 billion ($1.5 billion) in a friendly deal that would nearly double its output and expand its geographic reach as gold prices soar.

Gold prices fought off an early drop to post modest gains Thursday as investors thought better of the yellow metal's value as a safe haven.

Gold prices retreated in choppy trade on Tuesday after earlier hitting record highs as a recovery in appetite for assets seen as higher risk, such as stocks, took the steam out of a rally that many saw as overdone above $1,900 an ounce.

Gold set a record high on Friday on safe-haven buying but commodities rebounded after the U.S. dollar plunged to a record low against Japan's currency on speculation authorities will not halt the yen's surge.

Gold prices rallied more than 2 percent to a record highs on Friday as investors sought refuge from a second day of hefty losses on the stock markets, hurt by deepening concerns over slowing economic growth and the outlook for euro zone banks.

Mutual funds and other vehicles that purport to help investors fight inflation are the most popular new investment strategy being adopted by corporate retirement plans, according to a new survey released on Thursday.

Gold prices rallied more than 2 percent to a record highs on Friday as investors sought refuge from a second day of hefty losses on the stock markets, hurt by deepening concerns over slowing economic growth and the outlook for euro zone banks.

Gold is trading at $1,500, an important psychological level and near the all-time nominal high. Whether or not gold will go to new heights largely depends on monetary policy, according to some experts.

Gold Prices at Tuesday morning's London Fix hit record Euro and Pound Sterling highs - €1078.85 and £942.22 per ounce respectively. The US Dollar ticked lower after a Federal Reserve official suggested monetary policy may remain loose for an extended period.

Spot Gold prices rose for the second day running in London on Tuesday, reclaiming half of last week's 7% drop from the all-time Dollar high as world stock markets rallied again with commodity prices.

Investors around the world, more so the Chinese, are buying up gold assets to cover against rising inflation risk, macroeconomic uncertainties, a possible currency doom and the ever worsening U.S. debt scenario. The gargantuan demand from China can cause the yellow metal's prices to skyrocket, analysts feel. If the Chinese buying trend is ably supplemented with a fall in the value of dollar, this could result in a skyrocketing of prices.

The Silver Price rallied to $38.00 at Monday's London Fix – rising over 11% from Friday lunchtime's Fix – before also slipping back to trade 26% below late April's 3-decade record.

Silver Bullion rallied from a drop below $34 per ounce, the fifth daily plunge running and some 31% below last Thursday's new three-decade high. Dollar prices to Buy Gold whipped in a $10 range Friday morning in London, trading up to $1488 per ounce - some 5.5% below Monday's record-high spike- as European equities and global commodities stemmed their losses.

Commodity prices fell once again, and Silver Bullion sank for the fourth day in succession, losing 22.5% against the Dollar since Thursday last week - the sharpest plunge since April 1987.

U.S. stocks declined in early trade on Wednesday as weaker-than-expected ADP private sector employment report and mixed corporate earnings weighed.

Record high gold prices have fuelled investment in gold mining and exploration around the world. This is particularly true in the case of the Yukon region which is home to some of the largest gold miners.

Futures on major U.S. indices point to a lower opening on Wednesday, ahead of economic data including ADP national employment report and ISM non-manufacturing index.

Gold prices hit new all-time Dollar highs at the AM London Fix on Tuesday, but silver traded near a two-week low as world stock markets slipped and commodity prices fell hard.

The Bank of America Merrill Lynch said in a report that there was strong possibility of silver hitting $80 an ounce, causing ripples in the silver stock and ETF markets.

Even as silver prices are hovering near their all-time record high, there are some investors who ardently believe prices will continue to go upward. And then, there are people who think it's realistically possible that silver will breach an unbelievable $100 an ounce!