Sina U. S. stocks on the 8th, gold prices remain close to more than six-year high levels, investors are closely watching the development of the situation in the Middle East, gold is sought after by safe-haven funds.

Although the us services index rose to a four-month high in December, gold rose 2.4 per cent over the past two sessions to $1600 an ounce, driven by safe-haven buying.

"the tense relationship between the United States and Iran is the subject of the current market," said Peter Thomas, senior vice president of Zaner Group, a Chicago-based brokerage firm. "what you have to do is to digest what is happening now and pay attention to the situation in Iran. With regard to economic data, unless they are really unprecedented, I think the price of gold will continue to be supported by the geopolitical situation. "

Iran is conducting a situational assessment of 13 options to retaliate against the United States in retaliation for the killing of Iranian general Sulejmani, even the weakest of these options, the chairman of Iran's Supreme National Security Council said on Tuesday. it could also plunge the United States into a "historic nightmare."

COMEX February gold futures closed up 0.4% at $1574.30 an ounce, the highest close since April 2013.

Among other precious metals, palladium set a new record, with spot prices reaching $2050.63 an ounce on Tuesday. Silver and platinum also rose.

"rising geopolitical risks across the Middle East will support gold prices this winter," said Citigroup Inc analysts such as Aakash Doshi and Tracy Liao. The bank warned that it was difficult to trade gold only from the point of view of rising military tensions and that there were also "bullish" factors on the fundamentals.