November 12, 2006	Sunday	Shawwal 19, 1427

LONDON, Nov 11: Crude futures jumped higher this week, zinc and lead prices enjoyed record peaks for the third week running and coffee boiled to a high point last seen seven and a half years ago.

GOLD: The price of gold forged a two-month high as the US dollar weakened and oil prices rose.

The precious metal touched 636.90 dollars per ounce on Friday -- a level last reached on September 6. It has now leapt more than ten per cent in value over the past four weeks.

OIL: World oil prices rebounded by some two dollars owing to weak levels of US heating fuel stocks ahead of the peak-demand northern hemisphere winter, dealers said.

Crude prices broke through 61 dollars on Thursday, hitting levels last seen on October 26, before losing ground on profit-taking.

Oil also surged on signs the Opec cartel was following through on promised production cuts, alongside the large fall in US inventory of distillates.—AFP