Gold prices moved to highs last seen in January in Europe on Monday, with fund buyers piling into the market as the dollar dropped on global security worries.
A retreating dollar boosted bullion's value for holders of other currencies such as the euro and the yen.
Dealers reported safe-haven moves in currency markets amid rising tensions prompted by Israel's assassination of the Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.
"Some major volume is being taken in by the funds on the COMEX (US gold futures market), all on the back of the Gaza assassination this morning - we should see support around $414.50 and resistance up to $418.50," one dealer said.
Spot gold closed at $417.00/417.50 an ounce after touching a high of $418.00 earlier and compared with $411.75/412.50 in New York late on Friday.
The dollar fell prey to security concerns and sliding stocks, leaving the euro as the biggest beneficiary in a market short of fundamental economic news to move prices.
News that Israel killed the spiritual leader of Hamas added to recent global security worries, while Pakistan troops remained locked in battle with a group of suspected al Qaeda fighters.
Analysts said gold had room for further gains as fund buyers had scope to expose themselves more to bullion on the New York COMEX futures market.
"After the profit-taking that was seen in late January and February, there are strong indications that speculators have begun to rebuild their long positions," UBS Investment Bank analyst John Reade said in a report.
That was indicated by an increase in open interest on COMEX and the rally in the euro-denominated gold price, largely due to increased risk aversion, he added.
Silver fell from the day's highs just shy of a new six-year peak when fund buyers renewed their buying offensive.
Silver, used in jewellery and by industry, has been supported in a recent jolt higher by firm base metals prices - despite weak demand fundamentals raising concerns of a sharp sell-off.
Silver was quoted late on Monday at $7.59/7.61, up from $7.54/7.57 last quoted in the New York market on Friday.
Dealers and analysts said silver's weak fundamentals and high exposure on COMEX raised the chances of a brutal fall, but they could not rule out further rises to the $7.90 1998 peak.
Platinum rose to $895.00/900.00 from $890.00/895.00 in New York on Friday, while palladium stood near 16-month highs achieved 10 days ago at $280.00. It was last quoted at $278.50/284.50 from $271.00/277.00 previously.
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