Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Gold Hits Record-Breaking High

   VOA News  April 20, 2011
   Gold bars, coins

   The price of gold set a record high for a second straight day Wednesday
   as investors looked for an alternative to a weakening U.S. dollar.
   Various unsettling events in the world in the last few months - such as
   the political unrest in the Middle East and then the earthquake and
   tsunami in Japan - have pushed some investors to look for what they
   view as a secure commodity. Increasingly, they have bought gold.
   The price went above the $1,500 mark for the first time after the
   Standard & Poor's financial services firm on Monday lowered its
   economic outlook for the United States from "stable" to "negative" on
   fears that the country's leaders will not be able to reach a deal to
   rein in the growing U.S. governmental debt.
   Some analysts say the price of gold could increase further. Investors
   have also bought another much cheaper commodity: silver. It has risen
   to more than $44 an ounce - a three-decade high.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

.