US gold briefly above $1,000/oz on weak dollar

NEW YORK, Sept 30 (Reuters) - U.S. gold futures stayed
higher on Wednesday after briefly trading above $1,000 an
ounce, as a weaker dollar and simmering geopolitical tensions
in the Middle East bolstered bullion's status as an alternative
investment.

For the latest detailed report, click on [GOL/].

GOLD

* December gold futures GCZ9 up $4.30 at $998.70 an ounce
at 9:54 a.m. EDT (1354 GMT) on the COMEX division of the New
York Mercantile Exchange.

* Ranged from $992.70 to $1,006.40 -- the highest price
since Sept. 24.

* Gold was supported as the dollar fell against most major
currencies, as U.S. data suggested that the world's biggest
economy was on a generally stable path to recovery. [USD/]

* The U.S. economy contracted at a slower pace than
previously thought in the second quarter, but a further decline
in private payrolls in September was another indication that
recovery from recession would be patchy. [ID:nN30198553]

* December futures, however, trimmed gains as
flight-to-safety trade dominated market following a weak U.S.
regional business activity report that sent U.S. stocks down
more than 1 percent.

* Gold's strength on Wednesday was a delayed response to
saber rattling by the Middle East region, and that attracted
additional bullion buyers - George Gero, vice president of RBC
Capital Markets Global Futures

* Iran said on Wednesday it viewed talks with six world
powers in Geneva as an "opportunity and a test", while the
United States weighed sanctions over Tehran's nuclear program
if Thursday's meeting fails. [ID:nLU179342]

* Gold-to-oil ratio at 14.98, up from the previous
session's 14.92.

* COMEX estimated 9 a.m. volume at 51,575 lots.

* Spot gold XAU= was at $995.50 versus $990.70, which was
the previous session's late New York quote.

* London afternoon gold fix XAUFIX= was at $995.75.

SILVER

* December silver SIZ9 up 10.2 cents at $16.280 an ounce,
up with gold.

* Ranged from $16.170 to $16.520.

* COMEX estimated 9 a.m. volume at 14,625 lots.

* Spot silver XAG= was at $16.24, versus its previous
finish of 16.11 an ounce.

* London silver fix XAGFIX= at $16.45 an ounce.

PLATINUM

* January platinum PLF0 up $12.10 at $1,290.30 an ounce,
as the market rose in tandem with other metals.

* Spot platinum XPT= was at $1,280.50, compared with its
previous finish of $1,267.

PALLADIUM

* December palladium PAZ9 up $4 at $294 an ounce,
tracking platinum's gains.

* Spot palladium XPD= was at $290, against its previous
close of $285.
Prices at 10:16 a.m. EDT (1416 GMT)

Last Change Pct 2008 YTD

Chg Close % Chg
US gold GCZ9 997.40 3.00 0.3 884.30 12.8
US silver SIZ9 16.275 0.097 0.6 11.295 44.1
US platinum PLF0 1290.70 12.50 1.0 941.50 37.1
US palladium PAZ9 294.20 4.20 1.5 188.70 55.9
Gold XAU= 996.00 5.30 0.5 878.20 13.4
Silver XAG= 16.23 0.12 0.7 11.30 43.6
Platinum XPT= 1279.00 12.00 0.9 924.50 38.3
Palladium XPD= 290.00 5.00 1.8 184.50 57.2
Gold Fix XAUFIX= 995.75 -5.50 -0.5 836.50 19.0
Silver Fix XAGFIX= 16.45 0.00 0.0 14.76 11.4
Platinum Fix XPTFIX= 1287.00 4.00 0.3 1529.00 -15.8
Palladium Fix XPDFIX= 294.00 3.00 1.0 365.00 -19.5
(Reporting by Frank Tang; Editing by Christian Wiessner)