Gold Futures Post 11.1% Monthly Gain, Best Since August

Gold futures finished in positive territory on Tuesday, but finished well off
their highs as the U.S. dollar rebounded against a basket of foreign currencies.
COMEX gold for April delivery climbed to an intra-day high of $1,750.60 per
ounce this morning, but later tumbled to as low as $1,727 as the U.S. Dollar
Index rose 0.5% to 79.49. The yellow metal quickly recovered, however, to settle
higher by $6.00, or 0.4%, at $1,740.40 per ounce. In doing so, gold futures
posted an 11.1% gain in January, their best month since a 12.3% climb in August
of last year. Furthermore, the rise marked the yellow metals second best month
since surging 12.8% in November 2009. Silver futures retreated $0.27, or 0.8%,
to $33.26 per ounce on Tuesday.