Royal Gold (RGLD) (BHI) (BBT) (COF) (RT) (SABA) Ratings, Price Targets

Royal Gold, Inc. (RGLD), Baker Hughes (BHI), BB&T (BBT), Capital One (COF), Ruby Tuesday (RT) and Saba Software (SABA) had ratings and price targets on them adjusted by analysts.

National Bank upgraded Royal Gold, Inc. (RGLD) to an "Outperform" rating.

Global Hunter Securities downgraded Baker Hughes (BHI) from a "Accumulate" rating to a "Neutral $60.00 $40.00" rating.

Guggenheim downgraded BB&T (BBT) from a "Buy" rating to a "Neutral" rating.

Guggenheim upgraded Capital One (COF) from a "Neutral" rating to a "Buy" rating.

Raymond James upgraded Ruby Tuesday (RT) from a "Market Perform" rating to a "Outperform" rating.

Benchmark Co. upgraded Saba Software (SABA) from a "Hold" rating to a "Buy" rating. They have a price target of $16.00 on the company.

Royal Gold (RGLD) (SLAB) (SNH) (SXL) (THQI) Downgraded

Royal Gold, Inc. (NASDAQ: RGLD), Silicon Laboratories (NASDAQ: SLAB), Senior Housing (NYSE: SNH), SunoCo Logistics Partners LP (NYSE: SXL) and THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) were downgraded by analysts.

Royal Gold, Inc. (RGLD) was downgraded by Zacks Investment Research from an “Outperform” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

Silicon Laboratories (SLAB) was downgraded by UBS AG (NYSE:UBS) from a “Buy” rating to a “Neutral” rating. They have a price target of $43.00 on the company.

Senior Housing (SNH) was downgraded by JMP Securities from an “Outperform” rating to a “Market Perform” rating.

SunoCo Logistics Partners LP (SXL) was downgraded by Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) from a “Buy” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

THQ Inc. (THQI) was downgraded by BMC Equities Research to a “Hold” rating.

Royal Gold (RGLD) (GFI) (PTEN) (QCOR) (THQI) (GIII) Ratings, Price Targets

Royal Gold, Inc. (RGLD), Gold Fields (GFI), Patterson-UTI (PTEN), Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (QCOR), THQ Inc. (THQI) and G-III Apparel (GIII) ratings and price targets.

Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) initiated coverage on shares of Patterson-UTI (PTEN). They placed a “Buy” rating on the company.

Oppenheimer raised its price target on Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (QCOR) from $45.00 to $53.00. They have an “Outperform” rating on the company.

Zacks Investment Research downgraded Royal Gold, Inc. (RGLD) from an “Outperform” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

Wedbush lowered its price target on THQ Inc. (THQI) to $1.50.

Zacks Investment Research downgraded Gold Fields (GFI) from an “Outperform” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

Piper Jaffray (NYSE:PJC) lowered its price target on G-III Apparel (GIII) to $33.00.

Royal Gold (RGLD) (RIMM) (SPG) (TGT) (TX) (VNO) Downgraded

Royal Gold, Inc. (NASDAQ: RGLD), Research In Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM), Simon Properties (NYSE: SPG), Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT), Ternium S.A. (NYSE: TX) and Vornado Realty Trust (NYSE: VNO) were downgraded by analysts.

Royal Gold, Inc. (RGLD) was downgraded by RBC Capital from an “Outperform” rating to a “Sector Perform” rating. They have a price target of $94.00 on the company, down from $102.00.

Research In Motion (RIMM) was downgraded by JMP Securities from a “Market Perform” rating to an “Underperform” rating. They have a price target of $12.00 on the company.

Simon Properties (SPG) was downgraded by Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) from a “Buy” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

Target Corp. (TGT) was downgraded by JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) from an “Overweight” rating to a “Neutral” rating. They have a price target of $58.00 on the company.

Ternium S.A. (TX) was downgraded by Goldman Sachs from a “Buy” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

Vornado Realty Trust (VNO) was downgraded by Goldman Sachs from a “Neutral” rating to a “Sell” rating.

Royal Gold Inc. (RGLD) (NICK) (ARG) (SFNC) (UBSI) (ESP) (EAT) Declare Dividends

Royal Gold Inc. (NASDAQ:RGLD), Nicholas Financial Inc. (NASDAQ:NICK), Airgas Inc. (NYSE:ARG), Simmons First National Corporation (NASDAQ:SFNC), United Bankshares Inc. (NASDAQ:UBSI), Espey Manufacturing & Electronics Corp (AMEX:ESP) and Brinker International Inc. (NYSE:EAT)declare dividends.

The Board of Directors of Royal Gold Inc. (RGLD) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.11 per share payable 10/14/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 9/30/11.

The Board of Directors of Nicholas Financial Inc. (NICK) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.10 per share payable 9/20/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 9/13/11.

The Board of Directors of Airgas Inc. (ARG) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.32 per share payable 9/30/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 9/15/11.

The Board of Directors of Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.19 per share payable 10/3/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 9/15/11.

The Board of Directors of United Bankshares Inc. (UBSI) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.30 per share payable 10/3/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 9/9/11.

The Board of Directors of Espey Manufacturing & Electronics Corp (ESP) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.225 per share payable 9/30/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 9/9/11.

The Board of Directors of Brinker International Inc. (EAT) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.16 per share payable 9/29/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 9/9/11.

Royal Gold (RGLD) (NLC) (OMPI) (PT) (RLD) (TGS) (TRU) Jump Monday

Royal Gold, Inc. (NASDAQ:RGLD) closed at $73.00 Monday, gaining $3.00, or 4.29 percent.

Nalco Holding Co. (NYSE:NLC) closed at $32.80, up $0.73, or 2.28 percent.

Obagi Medical Products, Inc. (NASDAQ:OMPI) closed Monday at 10.11, jumping $0.34, or 3.48 percent.

Portugal Telecom, SGPS (NYSE:PT) soared Monday to close at $8.53, climbing $0.33, or 4.02 percent.

RealD Inc. (NYSE:RLD) closed at $14.74, increasing $0.84, or 6.16 percent.

Transportadora De Gas del Sur S (NYSE:TGS) closed up at $3.67 Monday, gaining $0.19, or 5.46 percent.

Torch Energy Royalty (NYSE:TRU) ended Monday trading at $2.45, rising $0.50, or 25.64 percent.

AK Steel (AKS) (RGLD) (WATG) (BRCD) (TSS) (CAAS) Downgraded

AK Steel Holding Co. (NYSE: AKS), Royal Gold, Inc. (NASDAQ: RGLD), Wonder Auto Technology Inc (NASDAQ: WATG), Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: BRCD), Total System Services, Inc. (NYSE: TSS) and China Automotive Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CAAS) downgraded by analysts.

Wonder Auto Technology Inc. (WATG) was downgraded by analysts at Brean Murray from a “Buy” rating to a “Hold” rating.

AK Steel Holding Co. (AKS) was downgraded by Keybanc from a “Buy” rating to a “Hold” rating.

Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. (BRCD) was downgraded by Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) from a “Neutral” rating to a “Sell” rating. They have a price target of $3.30 on the company.

Total System Services, Inc. (TSS) was downgraded by Goldman Sachs from a “Buy” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

China Automotive Systems Inc. (CAAS) was downgraded by Brean Murray from a “Buy” rating to a “Hold” rating.

Royal Gold, Inc. (RGLD) was downgraded by UBS AG (NYSE:UBS) from a “Buy” rating to a “Neutral” rating.

Royal Gold (RGLD) Trades Higher on Economic Weakness

Royal Gold (NASDAQ:RGLD) was able to trade in positive territory on Thursday even as gold prices closed down on the day.

Gold for June delivery closed down $3.40, or 0.2 percent, at $1,492.40 a troy ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Silver prices ended the session down. July delivery for silver fell 16.5 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $34.932 a troy ounce.

The ICE Futures' dollar index was down 0.5 percent at 75.106. The U.S. dollar was down against most of its major peers at the end of trading Thursday.

Extremely bad news on Obama's economy pressured the commodity sector.

July contracts had copper falling 5.25 cents to settle at $4.0525 a pound and platinum dropped $10.90 to $1,769 an ounce. June palladium settled down $9.05 at $728.15 an ounce.

Housing sales and manufacturing data revealed an ongoing weak and fragile American economy.

Royal Gold, Inc. is a royalty company which acquires and manages gold and other precious metals from operations around the world. Other metals in invests in are silver, copper, lead and zinc. Royal Gold invests in a percentage of a metal produced at a mine in return for a payment on the front end. They aren't exposed to any of the operations of the mining companies it invests in, thus the cost structure is low.

Royal Gold (RGLD) closed Thursday at $59.54, gaining $0.22, or 0.37 percent.

Miners (GFI) (RGLD) (ANV) (KGN) (GSS) (BVN) Trade Up

Shares of Gold Fields (NYSE:GFI), Royal Gold (Nasdaq:RGLD), Allied Nevada Gold (AMEX:ANV), Keegan Resources Inc (AMEX:KGN), Golden Star Resources (AMEX:GSS) and Compania Mina Buenaventura, S.A (NYSE:BVN) all traded up on Wednesday as gold and silver prices climbed on the day.

June gold climbed $15.80 to $1,495.80 per troy ounce, a 1.1 percent gain on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The less traded May contract was up $15.80, or 1.1 percent, to $1,495.60 a troy ounce.

The silver contract for May delivery gained $1.61, or 4.8 percent, to $35.10 a troy ounce.

A weaker dollar was the major catalyst for gold and silver specifically, and commodities in general on Wednesday.

Benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude for June delivery was up $3.19, or 3.3 percent, to settle at $100.10 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Brent crude rose $2.31 in London, or 2.1 percent, to settle at $112.30 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.

The U.S. dollar index, which measures the dollar against a basket of six currencies, traded at 75.438, down a little from 75.441 late Tuesday. That was also a factor in gold and silver prices going up.

Royal Gold (RGLD) closed Wednesday at $59.32, gaining $1.48, or 2.56 percent.

Miners (HMY) (GRS) (GOLD) (RGLD) (IAG) (AEM) All Close Up Tuesday

Shares of Harmony Gold Mining (NYSE:HMY), Gammon Gold (NYSE:GRS), Randgold (NASDAQ:GOLD), Royal Gold (Nasdaq:RGLD), IAMGOLD Corporation (NYSE:IAG) and Agnico-Eagle (NYSE:AEM) went against the grain of gold prices, all closing up on Tuesday, even though gold prices dropped again.

Gold futures for June delivery closed down $10.60, or 0.7 percent, at $1,480.00 per ounce in New York. Trade ranged from a low $1,471.10 to a high of $1,497.50.

The yellow metal has dropped $100 or 6 percent from its record highs of over $1,575 an ounce set earlier in May.

Silver gained 0.7 percent to settle at $33.80 an ounce. Since the latter part of April it has fallen almost 33 percent from a record high of $49.51.

Agnico-Eagle (AEM) closed Tuesday at $62.44, gaining $0.83, or 1.35 percent.

Royal Gold (RGLD) Falls Along with Gold Prices

Royal Gold (Nasdaq:RGLD), along with the majority of gold miners, fell again in Wednesday trading, as gold price came under pressure in the ongoing volatile market conditions.

Gold for June delivery dropped $15.50 to settle at $1,501.40 at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The gold price Wednesday traded as high as $1,526.80 and as low as $1,495.40.

Gold lost 1 percent overall and silver plunged close to 8 percent on a broad commodity selloff, as the U.S. dollar index climbed over 1 percent to $75.41, as the euro was weakened by the seemingly endless sovereign debt crisis in Europe that isn't going away.

Gold and silver also garnered no support from rising inflation data. China said prices dropped to 5.3 percent in April from 5.4 percent in March, but that number was higher than the 5.2 percent looked for.

The Bank of England said that inflation could hit 5 percent in 2011.

Silver prices dropped almost $3 to close at $35.51 an ounce.

Royal Gold, Inc. acquires and operates precious metals royalties.

Royal Gold (RGLD) closed Wednesday at $57.77, falling $1.68, or 2.83 percent.

Barrick (ABX) (AZK) (GSS) (RGLD) (GRS) Trade Mixed As Gold Drops

Gold and silver prices went through a reversal Friday as gold closed down and silver rebounded to close higher, putting pressure on gold miners such as Barrick Gold (NYSE:ABX), Aurizon Mines (AMEX:AZK), Golden Star Resources (AMEX:GSS), Royal Gold (Nasdaq:RGLD) and Gammon Gold (NYSE:GRS) - which closed mixed - and gold ETFS.

Gold for June delivery fell $13.10 to close at $1,493.60 at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The spot gold price was down by about $13 an ounce. Silver prices settled up 21 cents to $35.01 an ounce.

The U.S. dollar index was up 0.74 percent to $75.75 as the euro continued to get hammered on the sovereign debt crises in Europe. The euro plunged 1.7 percent last week as Greece was again in the spotlight for the need to probably be bailed out again, as it appears the country refuses to implement austerity measures to deal with the situation, as it, along with numerous countries, has made progressive, socialists promises they aren't able to keep.

Besides the long-term collapse of the U.S. dollar and the European sovereign debt crises, other factors offering support to gold include tightening in China, inflation, and unrest in the middle east.

Barrick closed Friday at $45.01, down $0.14, or 0.31 percent.

Miners (ABX) (KGC) (ANV) (RGLD) (AU) Trade Mixed as Gold Jumps Again

Shares of gold miners Allied Nevada Gold (AMEX:ANV), Royal Gold (Nasdaq:RGLD), Barrick Gold (NYSE:ABX), AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU) and Kinross Gold Corp (NYSE:KGC)close mixed Tuesday as gold bumps up again.

Gold for June delivery added $13.70, or 0.9%, to $1,516.90 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Silver also extended its rebound, with the July contract gaining $1.37, or 3.7%, to $38.47 an ounce.

Separately, HSBC Global Research boosted its average price estimate for gold, silver and platinum.

HSBC raised its gold price projection to $1,525 an ounce from $1,450 an ounce this year, and to $1,500 from $1,300 for 2012.

For silver, the bank sees it averaging $34 in 2011, up from a previous estimate of $26, and $29 from $20 in 2012.

Platinum is seen closing 2011 at $1,850 from $1,750, according to HSBC, and ending 2012 at $1,750 from $1,650.

For palladium, HSBC sees it averaging $825, from $750, in 2011, and $750 from $650 in 2012.

Barrick Gold closed at $47.65, down $0.02, or 0.04 percent.

Miners (ABX) (RGLD) (JAG) (RIC) (AU) Trade Mixed as Gold, Silver Rebound

Gold miners Barrick Gold (NYSE:ABX), Royal Gold (Nasdaq:RGLD), Jaguar Mining (NYSE:JAG), Richmont Mines, Inc. (AMEX:RIC) and AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU) closed mixed Monday as gold prices turned around on Monday.

All the miners listed above closed up with the exception of Jaguar Mining.

Gold for June delivery increased $11.86 to settle at $1,503.20 at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange after dropping 4.8 percent in a week. The gold price Monday traded in a range as high as $1,512 and as low as $1,489.

Silver prices jumped $1.82 to close at $37.11 an ounce after plunging 27 percent last week.

According to research firm Lipper, last week almost $1 billion flowed out of silver exchange traded funds (ETFs).

The U.S. dollar fell to $1.434 against the euro and dropped against the Japanese yen to 80.24 yen.

Richmont Mines, Inc. (AMEX:RIC) closed Monday at $8.12, gaining $0.40, or 5.18 percent.

Miners (ABX) (HMY) (IVN) (RGLD) Mixed as Gold Closes Up

Gold was able to shake itself of silver Friday, as it has been weighed down by the plummeting price of silver in recent trade, which also has been dragging down gold miners Barrick Gold (NYSE:ABX), Harmony Gold Mining (NYSE:HMY), Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (NYSE:IVN) and Royal Gold (Nasdaq:RGLD).

Gold for June delivery climbed $10.20, or 0.7 percent, to $1,491.60 an ounce. Gold lost 4.2 percent last week, as it had settled at a record $1,556.40 an ounce the Friday before. Gold fell 4.2 percent on the week.

Silver for July delivery dropped 95.3 cents, or 2.6 percent, to $35.29 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. It had risen as high as $36.43 an ounce in Friday's trading.

The front-month silver contract had its worst week since late March 1980. Silver for May delivery fell 27 percent in the five-day period — its biggest percent drop since that date. The most-active July contract also was down 27 percent on the week.

Silver has lost 14 percent so far in 2011. On April 25, silver had reached as high as $49.845.

Barrick Gold (ABX) closed Friday at $46.84, gaining $0.01, or 0.02 percent.

Miners (IVN) (RGLD) (NXG) (TRE) (NCMGY) Pressured as Gold Prices Fall

Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (NYSE:IVN), Royal Gold (Nasdaq:RGLD), Northgate Minerals (AMEX:NXG), Tanzanian Royalty Exploration (AMEX:TRE) and Newcrest Mining (OTC:NCMGY.PK) got hammered Thursday as gold and silver prices continue to plunge.

Gold for May delivery, the front-month contract, ended the trading session Thursday down $34, or 2.2 percent, at $1,480.90 per troy ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The silver contract for May delivery closed 8 percent lower, down $3.152, at $36.231 per troy ounce.

Since the Friday settlement price silver has plummeted 25 percent.

The U.S. dollar was also up, adding pressure to the two precious metals, as it gained 2 percent against the euro. That came largely from European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet who suggested there will no interest-rate boost in the near future.

Nothing has changed the underlying fundamentals for gold or silver though, and this is just a healthy correction before gold and silver prices begin moving up again.

As long as easy money policies continue by the Federal Reserve and interest rates remain near zero, there is nothing to stop gold and silver prices from continuing to rise.

Inflation, political unrest, sovereign debt crisis and the collapsing U.S. dollar will also play a major role over time for gold and silver prices.

Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (NYSE:IVN) closed Thursday at $23.93, falling $1.03, or 4.13 percent.

Miners (GRS) (FCX) (NG) (RGLD) (TCK) Trade Mixed as Gold Falls

While several events should have helped support gold prices on Wednesday, that wasn't the case, as Gammon Gold (NYSE:GRS), Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX), NovaGold Resources Inc. (AMEX:NG), Royal Gold (Nasdaq:RGLD) and Teck Resources Ltd (NYSE:TCK) closed mixed, with gold for June delivery, the most actively traded contract, falling $25.10 to $1,515.30 an ounce.

Silver prices are the story for commodities and gold at this time, as the plunge in prices is dragging down the overall commodity sector, as traders sell off holdings to take some profits.

Silver fell $3.197, or 7.5 percent, to settle at $39.388 an ounce. That's the third straight day of losses after silver closed in on $50 an ounce mark last week.

Silver for July delivery dropped $2.820, at $39.765 per troy ounce.

The U.S. dollar index lost 0.15 percent to $73.01, dropping from Tuesday's 73.127 close. The dollar index is down 7.5 percent so far in 2011.

Against the euro, the dollar plunged to its lowest level Wednesday since December 2009.

Other than the fall of the dollar, other factors that would have normally supported gold was the underreported decision by the European Union to bail out Portugal for close to 78 billion euros.

Also largely ignored was the ADP Employment Change report for April, which showed the private sector missed the anticipated addition of 200,000 jobs, being able to only generate 179,000 for the month.

Also of note Wednesday was the Institute for Supply Management’s services-sector index, which was weakened more than expected in April, confirming that American growth is slowing.

Gammon Gold (GRS) closed Wednesday at $10.05, rising $0.12, or 1.21 percent.

Correction for (AZK) (EGO) (RGLD) (FCX) (GFI) as Gold Prices Pull Back

Shares of gold miners like Aurizon Mines (AMEX:AZK), Eldorado Gold Corporation (NYSE:EGO), Royal Gold (Nasdaq:RGLD), Freeport-McMoRan (NYSE:FCX) and Gold Fields (NYSE:GFI) were suffering Tuesday as the price of gold dropped on the session, as the U.S. dollar gained a little.

Gold for June delivery fell $16.70 to $1,540.40 an ounce at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The gold price traded in a range as high as $1,551.40 and as low as $1,516.20. The spot gold price fell over $15 for the day.

A temporarily stronger U.S. dollar put some pressure on gold and silver prices Tuesday, as the U.S. dollar index climbed 0.04 percent to $73.09.

Also surprising the market was the decision by India to boost their interest rates by 50 basis points to fight inflation. That puts the lending rate their at 8.89 percent, and the overnight lending rate at 7.25 percent.

Silver fell another $3.49 Tuesday to settle at $42.576 per troy ounce on the Comex division of the Nymex.

Most of pressure on silver prices has come from the CME Group decision to raise margin requirements by 11.6 percent, starting at the close of market on Tuesday.

Gold looks like it's just taking a needed breather before resuming its upward run.

Gold stocks have been overall lagging the price of gold, and that should change assuming the costs of inputs remain lower than the push up in gold prices.

A growing number of gold miners are increasing dividends to attract investors.

Eldorado Gold Corporation (EGO) closed at $16.78, falling $1.39, or 7.65 percent.

AngloGold (AU) (JAG) (RGLD) (NCMGY) Close Down as Gold Levels

Shares of AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU), Jaguar Mining (NYSE:JAG), Royal Gold (Nasdaq:RGLD) and Newcrest Mining (OTC:NCMGY.PK) closed down as gold prices closed 70 cents above last close.

Gold for June delivery jumped 70 cents Monday to settle at $1,557.10 an ounce at the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. After losing 2.5 percent to drop to $1,540.30, the yellow metal rebounded to $1,577 an ounce.

Silver prices for July lost $2.51 to settle at $46.08 an ounce, after getting crushed 13 percent, as it fell as low as $42.20.

The U.S. dollar index changed directions after an rally early in the trading session Monday and was down 0.09 percent at $72.96. The U.S. dollar index was fell almost 4 percent in April and is struggling to keep from breaking below its record low of $71.

It is surprising to see gold and silver be pressured, as in April gold was up 8.92 percent and silver a whopping 28.72 percent.

One piece of financial information somewhat ignored Monday because of the hoopla surrounding the death of Osama bin Laden, was the manufacturing report concerning China in April which showed production had slowed down during the month. That should help the price of gold and silver going forward.

AngloGold Ashanti closed at $50.39, falling $0.59, or 1.16 percent.

Agnico (AEM) (AZK) (GSS) (RGLD) (GRS) Close Up as Gold Price Breaks Records Again

Agnico-Eagle (NYSE:AEM), Aurizon Mines (AMEX:AZK), Golden Star Resources (AMEX:GSS), Royal Gold (Nasdaq:RGLD) and Gammon Gold (NYSE:GRS) closed up as gold price records continue be broken.

Gold futures soared past $1,550 an ounce Friday as investors looked for an alternative to the U.S. dollar, which continues to collapse.

The most-actively traded gold contract, for June delivery climbed $25.20, or 1.6 percent, to settle at a record $1,556.40 a troy ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.

It roared past its intraday peak to $1,569.80 in electronic trading after the close. May gold rose $25.20, or 1.6 percent, to end at a nearby record $1,556.00. Measured by percent and the U.S. dollar, it's the largest monthly gains since November 2009.

Most-active July silver jumped $1.058, or 2.2%, to a record settlement of $48.599 a troy ounce, while the May contract rose $1.064, or 2.2 percent, to $48.584, just short of its all-time settlement high of $48.70 hit on January 17, 1980. In April, the May silver contract rallied $10.712, or 28.3 percent, to its biggest monthly U.S. dollar gain in Comex history.

The ICE Futures U.S. Dollar Index was down 0.2 percent on Friday, increasing demand for the dollar-denominated precious metals by making them less expensive for foreign buyers.

Inflation concerns in America, Europe, China and Russia also has contributed to the jump in gold prices.

Other factors affecting gold and silver are the collapsing U.S. dollar, sovereign debt crisis in Europe, unrest in the Middle East and consequences of the Japanese earthquake.