March 16, 2006	Thursday	Safar 15, 1427

LONDON, March 15: Silver climbed in Europe on Wednesday as investors bought, taking the volatile market within reach of a recent 22-year peak at $10.31 a troy ounce. Gold was little changed, slipping back after an early run to a one-week high, with traders looking for a possible test of the upper end of its recent $540-560 an ounce trading range.

Silver has jumped by some 16 per cent since the end of last year, initially tracking firm gold prices but then showing independent strength on speculation about the launch of a new investment product. Spot silver was at the day’s high of $10.24/10.27, up from New York’s $10.20/10.23. —Reuters