US gold futures ended higher on Wednesday after setting record highs for a second straight session as mounting worries about potential inflation encouraged investors to buy the precious metal. Most-active December gold futures up $4.70 at $1,044.40 an ounce on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.
GOLD: Gold-to-oil ratio at 14.72, up from the previous session's 14.62. COMEX estimated 11 am volume at 102,019 lots. Spot gold was at $1,041.75 an ounce by 1:17 pm EDT (1717 GMT), against $1,040.85 quoted late in New York on Tuesday.
SILVER: December silver closed up 20.5 cents, or 1.2 percent, at $17.50 an ounce, up with gold. Ranged from $17.310 to $17.595, a two-week high. COMEX estimated 11 am volume at 21,009 lots. Spot silver was at $17.46, versus its previous finish of 17.32 an ounce.
PLATINUM: January platinum firmed $2.40 to settle at $1,327.70 an ounce on broad-based precious metals rally. Spot platinum was at $1,316.50, compared with its previous finish of $1,313.50.