Gold held near a 1-month high on Wednesday as renewed worries about debt-ridden Greece and volatile currencies boosted its safe-haven appeal, while steady purchases by autocatalyst makers sent palladium to 2-year highs. Spot gold was at $1,136.85 an ounce by 0528 GMT, up $3.65 from New York's notional close on Tuesday, when it hit a 1-month high of $1,138.40 an ounce despite a rising US dollar against the euro.
US gold futures for June delivery added $1.9 to $1,137.9 an ounce, holding near Tuesday's 1-month high. Gold in euro terms held near a record. Thinly-traded palladium jumped as high as $510.25 an ounce, its strongest since March 2008, on purchases from makers of autocatalysts in Japan as well speculative buying driven by hopes for a global economic recovery. Platinum hit a 20-month high of $1,723 an ounce, catching up with its sister metal.