Gold Hits 3-Week High, on Course to Reclaiming $1,600 Perch

The fear factor across markets is like manna from heaven for gold bugs. Both bullion and futures of the yellow metal breached the key $1,580 per ounce resistance on Monday before consolidating gains, although analysts said the $1,600 target seemed well within the market’s reach. Gold futures for February delivery on New York’s COMEX settled up $5.50, or 0.4%, at $1,577.40 per ounce. It earlier reached $1,588.10, a peak since Jan. 8. Spot gold, which tracks live trades in bullion, was up $10.38, or 0.7%, at $1,580.74 per ounce by 3:00 PM ET (20:00 GMT), after hitting a three-week high at $1,588.62. “The uptrend may be expected to continue in case the market rises above resistance level $1,588, which will be followed by reaching resistance level $1,600,” Anton Kolhanov, an independent trader and technical strategist for gold, said on Monday.