Precious metals advanced on Tuesday, posting gains ranging from 0.4% for gold to 2% for palladium. Gold’s increase was a fourth straight. It also logged a new, over nine-month high. Gold for February delivery rose $6.80 to settle at $1,935.40 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. The settlement was gold’s highest since it ended at $1,948.20 an ounce on April 21. "Gold prices are modestly higher in choppy, two-sided trading at midday Tuesday, after hitting a nine-month peak overnight. The market is seeing some normal backing and filling on the charts today. Still, the technical ... (full story)