LONDON, Sept 15: Gold prices hit the highest point for 17 years in New York trading on Thursday, owing to forecasts of higher inflation, analysts here said. On the Comex, a division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, gold for December delivery rose to $459.20 per ounce — the highest level since June 1988. Later the same day it stood at $458.20. On the London Bullion Market, the price of an ounce of gold rose to as high as $455.20 per ounce, the highest level for nine months.—AFP