Gold at highest since mid April on easing hopes
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Gold futures on Thursday settled at their highest in four months as investors were optimistic more economic stimulus is forthcoming. Gold for December delivery (CNS:GCZ2) advanced $32.30, or 2%, to settle at $1,672.80 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. That was gold's highest finish since mid April. Weak manufacturing data from China and the minutes of the latest U.S. monetary-policy meeting spurred the hopes of imminent efforts to help economies move along.