US gold hits record on dollar drop, India purchase

NEW YORK, Nov 4 (Reuters) - U.S. gold futures again hit
record highs on Wednesday and are within striking distance of
$1,100 an ounce, helped by the dollar's decline and improved
sentiment after the International Monetary Fund completed a
gold sale to India.

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

GOLD

* December gold GCZ9 settled up $2.40 at $1,087.30 an
ounce on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile
Exchange.

* Range from $1,080.50 to a record-high $1,096.50.

* Gold boosted by economic optimism on a Wall Street rally,
which erodes the dollar's safe-haven appeal.

* Dollar at session lows against euro following an
optimistic U.S. non-manufacturing economic indicator. [USD/]

* Sentiment strong on expectations of renewed central bank
interest after IMF sold 200 tonnes of gold to India on Monday.

* Gold boosted on the notion that India could buy more from
the IMF, or more IMF gold could be sold to central banks
without weighing down on the open market - traders.

* Some bullion investors cut positions as prices failed to
break above key $1,100 level, ahead of the Federal Reserve's
interest rate decision.

* COMEX estimated 1 p.m. volume at a heavy 149,574 lots.

* Rising oil supports gold. U.S. crude oil initially rose
above $80 a barrel, but has cut gains late in the session.

* Gold-to-oil ratio at 13.64, down from 13.67 in the
previous session.

* Spot gold XAU= was at $1,087.15 per ounce at 1:50 p.m.
EST (1850 GMT), up from $1,084.50 quoted late in the previous
session in New York.

* London's afternoon gold fix XAUFIX= at $1,090.

SILVER

* December silver SIZ9 ends up 22.5 cents, or 1.3
percent, at $17.405 an ounce, rising with gold.

* Range from $17.105 to $17.635.

* COMEX estimated 1 p.m. volume at 33,848 lots.

* Spot silver XAG= was at $17.34, versus $17.20 in the
previous session in New York.

* London silver fix XAGFIX= at $17.48.

PLATINUM

* January platinum PLF0 finishes up $13.10 at $1,369.30
an ounce, up on improved sentiment after encouraging U.S. auto
sales released late Tuesday.

* Spot platinum XPT= was at $1,360.50, compared with late
previous session quote of $1,355.50 in New York.

PALLADIUM

* December palladium PAZ9 closes up $1.05 at $328.80 an
ounce on platinum's gains.

* Spot palladium XPD= was at $325.50, compared with the
previous session's close at $324.50.

Close Change Pct 2008 YTD

Chg Close % Chg
US gold GCZ9 1087.30 2.4 0.2 884.3 23.0
US silver SIZ9 17.405 0.225 1.3 11.295 54.1
US platinum PLF0 1369.30 13.10 1.0 941.50 45.4
US palladium PAZ9 328.80 1.05 0.3 188.70 74.2
Prices at 1:51 p.m. EST (1851 GMT)
Gold XAU= 1086.90 2.40 0.2 878.20 23.8
Silver XAG= 17.34 0.14 0.8 11.30 53.5
Platinum XPT= 1360.50 5.00 0.4 924.50 47.2
Palladium XPD= 325.00 0.500 0.2 184.50 76.2
Gold Fix XAUFIX= 1090.00 -1.75 -0.2 836.50 30.3
Silver Fix XAGFIX= 17.48 113.00 6.9 14.76 18.4
Platinum Fix XPTFIX= 1359.00 1.00 0.1 1529 -11.1
Palladium FixXPDFIX= 330.00 1.00 0.3 365.0 -9.6
(Reporting by Frank Tang; Editing by Christian Wiessner)