Silver eyed its best week since 1987, with additional impetus coming from bets for a revival in industrial activity.
Spot gold was up 0.3 per cent at $1,893.21 per ounce by 0739 GMT, having hit its highest since September 2011 at $1,897.16 on Thursday.
Prices have risen more than 4 per cent this week, putting gold on course for its longest winning streak since late 2011.
“The basic logic has to do with the introduction of further fiscal stimulus… in the European Union, and we’re talking again about further fiscal stimulus in the United States,” said DailyFx currency strategist Ilya Spivak.
“Interest rates are not really expected to go higher, and the likely response is seen as inflation.”
Gold tends to benefit from widespread stimulus measures from central banks as it is perceived as a hedge against inflation and currency debasement.
Rising Sino-U.S. tensions also prompted investors to seek safety in bullion. China ordered the United States to shut its Chengdu consulate in retaliation for the closure of its consulate in Texas.
Further helping gold, the dollar index held near a two-year low.
U.S. gold futures rose 0.2 per cent to $1,893.60 per ounce.
Low physical demand has been forcing dealers in India and China to offer hefty discounts.
Spot gold may retest a support at $1,880 per ounce, Reuters technical analyst Wang Tao said.
Silver, which fell 0.4 per cent to $22.63 per ounce, was up more than 17 per cent for the week.
“Silver shares some ‘safe haven’ attributes with gold but is inherently more leveraged to global growth and manufacturing recovery… The rebound in global PMIs, particularly in China, is also supportive for silver,” Citi analysts said in a note.
Platinum rose 0.3 per cent to $907.88 and palladium gained 0.3 per cent to $2,131.34.
