Goud op weg naar kwartaalwinst van 11,5 %.........
Intro:
* Spot gold headed for biggest quarterly gain since Q2 2010
* Buying active in Shanghai gold ahead of week-long holiday
* Coming Up: Euro zone inflation; 0900 GMT
Volledige analyse:
Gold hit a one-week high on
Friday, extending gains into a second straight session as
Spain's economic reform plan eased investor nervousness over
euro zone finances, while firmer oil prices also lent support.
Spot gold is headed for an 11.5-percent rise in the third
quarter, its biggest such gain since the second quarter of 2010,
buoyed by recent stimulus measures from the U.S. Federal Reserve
and the European Central Bank.
Bullion is used as a hedge against higher inflation outlook triggered by easy monetary policy.
Spain's budget plan set the stage for a bailout request, bringing relief to investors skittish over Madrid's finances and euro zone's ability to contain its debt crisis. The euro firmed against the dollar after the news, boosting commodities priced in the greenback.
Though some have warned about the high speculative interest in gold in recent weeks and a potential sharp pullback as a result, the medium to long-term outlook for the precious metal remains rosy.
"There is definitely no reason for gold to go back to $1,500 level," said Yuichi Ikemizu, head of commodity trading, Japan, Standard Bank. "I don't see gold going on a spectacular rally right now, but towards the end of year it is likely to hit $1,900 level."
Spot gold hit a one-week high of $1,782.6 an ounce before falling slightly to $1,781.59 an ounce by 0634 GMT, on course for a sixth straight week of gains and the strongest monthly rise since January. It struck an all-time high above $1,920 last September.
U.S. gold was up 0.2 percent at $1,784.20.
Gold also drew support from high oil prices, which are usually associated with rising inflation and tends to add to the appeal of bullion as a hedge against rising prices.
Brent crude held above $112 per barrel, extending gains after an 1.8 percent rise in the previous session.
SHANGHAI GOLD RISES AHEAD OF HOLIDAY
The gold forward contract on the Shanghai Gold Exchange traded up more than 1 percent to 360.25 yuan a gram ($1,778 an ounce) in the last trading day before China kicks off a week-long National Day holiday.
"We see fresh buying interest, as investors bullish on gold position themselves ahead of the long holiday," said Peter Fung, head of dealing at Wing Fung Precious Metals in Hong Kong.
Fung added that premium for gold bars in Hong Kong, a main conduit for gold flow into China, ranged between 50 cents to $1 an ounce above London prices.
Among other precious metals, spot platinum hit $1,662.49, its highest in more than a week. The metal is headed for an 8.5-percent monthly gain, its second straight month of rise.
A labour unrest in top platinum producer South Africa continued to support prices of the metal.
The world's No. 2 platinum producer Impala Platinum said on Friday pay hikes it had offered to avert a strike were aimed at ensuring peace against the backdrop of a wave of violence and wildcat action rocking the country's mining sector.
Spot palladium rose 0.8 percent to $635.47, on course for a 5-percent weekly fall but an almost 2-percent monthly gain. On the quarterly chart, the metal is on course for a 9.5 percent rise, its strongest since the end of 2010.
Spot silver rose to a one-week high of $34.85, headed for a quarterly gain of 27 percent, also its biggest quarterly rise since the last quarter of 2010.
By Rujun Shen
