Gold edged up on Friday as investors turned their backs on the euro on worries that belt-tightening in Europe will slow growth, but the metal lacked fresh momentum to surpass a recent record high. Gold was at $1,233.90 an ounce by 0545 GMT, up $2.07 from New York's notional close on Thursday. Bullion struck a record high of $1,248.15 on Wednesday.
The world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, SPDR Gold Trust>, said its holdings were unchanged at a record high of 1,209.499 tonnes as of May 13, which suggested that investors had little desire to book profits yet. US gold futures for June delivery added $6.6 an ounce to $1,235.8 an ounce. Gold priced in euro and sterling held near an all-time high.