precious metals prices

Gold and silver prices, as measured by the London PM Fix Price, moved to new highs on the week.

Precious metals prices jumped for a third straight week with silver again rising the most while gold topped the psychological $1,000 an ounce barrier.

New York crude futures tumbled Friday yet pulled out a weekly gain of nearly 2 percent. U.S. stocks marked a positive week (despite Friday losses) as did European stocks.

Precious metals prices glowed for a second consecutive week, with silver blazing a trail of hot fire and gold surging toward $1,000 an ounce.

New York crude futures rose slightly Friday but had their worst weekly loss in nearly two months. In other markets, both U.S. and European stocks ended the week lower.

Precious metals prices were higher for the second straight week but no explosive breakouts were seen, although silver jumped nearly 5 percent in London and 3.6 percent in New York.

As for gold, a weaker U.S. dollar and rising crude-oil prices helped support the yellow metal through most of the week.

U.S. stocks finished mixed on Friday, but they jumped 4 percent this week on better than expected earnings reports.

European stocks gained for the second straight week...