SAN FRANCISCO (CBS.MW) -- Gold futures climbed Wednesday to close near $456 an ounce -- the highest settlement price since June 1988 -- with traders betting that the U.S. dollar's weakness will continue to drive demand for metals.
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Gold is sensitive to the dollar's devaluation," said John Person, president of National Futures Advisory Services. And "it doesn't appear that there is much available to defend or cure the dollar's trouble immediately."
The dollar extended its descent versus major currencies worldwide Wednesday on concern about burgeoning U.S. deficits, with growing optimism on the British economy also having an impact. See Currencies.
Traders will continue to sell the dollar until talk of currency intervention is backed up with action, said Dale Doelling, chief market commentator.
Against this backdrop, gold for February delivery closed at $455.90 an ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange, up $2.70 for the session. Prices haven't closed at a level this high since June 1988, when they settled at $460, according to weekly charts.
Gold has found support at the $450.90 level after hitting a high of $457 on Monday, said Person. Prices fell Tuesday, but they "needed to take a breather before a next leg run up," which could be as high as
$475 and eventually $500, he said.