(Reuters) – Gold prices vaulted 3 percent on Thursday to near an all-time high, topping $1,200 an ounce in the biggest one-day gain in more than a year as financial turmoil in Europe and tumultuous U.S. equity trade accelerated the flight to safety.

After trading higher through most of the day, gold prices rallied sharply at mid-afternoon, passing the $1,200 mark for the first time since December 4 as stocks plunged on what sources said was an erroneous trade at a Wall Street bank.

While major stock indices recouped much of their sudden losses after falling as much as 9 percent, gold clung to its over $30-an-ounce gains, underscoring the ongoing skittishness of investors and the desire for safer asset amid mounting worries about euro zone contagion from Greece’s debt problems.

“Gold is yet another currency … but it does not have the debt issue. It’s not just a Greek problem, not just a European problem, but a global problem,” said Axel Merk, president of California-based Merk Mutual Funds, which has $550 million fund assets.

“Gold is one way that investors can try to diversify in a world where there are no risk-free assets anymore.”

Spot gold rose as high as $1,210.35 an ounce, its firmest since December 4 and its fourth rise in the last five trading sessions. Gold hit a record high of $1,226.10 last December.

It was at $1,208.55 an ounce at 3:30 p.m. EDT (1930 GMT), up 2.9 percent from $1,174.20 late in New York on Wednesday, its biggest rise since February last year.

U.S. gold futures for June delivery on the COMEX division of the NYMEX were up nearly $37, or 3.1 percent, to $1,211.90 an ounce. Earlier, June settled at $1,197.30 an ounce.

Gold priced in euros, in Swiss francs and in sterling all hit record highs, underlying the metal’s strength with rising currency volatility. Meanwhile, strong investment interest boosted holdings of the biggest gold-backed exchange-traded fund to an all-time peak.

Gold prices tend to rise in times of economic and geopolitical crises.

“Despite the ECB being confident that default for Greece is ‘out of question’, the market seems to be nervous,” said Pradeep Unni, senior analyst at Richcomm Global Services.

“At this point in time, it is becoming evident that investors are hedging the recent euro zone and UK crisis equally in gold and the U.S. dollar,” he said.

Waning confidence in euro-zone sovereign debt markets and currencies has boosted gold, traders said.

The premium investors demand to hold 10-year euro zone peripheral government bonds rather than benchmark Bunds rose after Trichet said buying bonds to combat the credit crisis had not been discussed at a rate-setting meeting.

Escalating concerns that Greece’s debt crisis may spill over into other euro zone states knocked the euro down 2 percent to under $1.26 on Thursday.

Dollar strength usually weighs on gold, but this factor is, for the moment, being outweighed by risk-related buying.

Euro-priced gold hit a record high of 962.20 euros an ounce, while in Swiss francs and sterling the metal also peaked at a record at 1,348.33 francs an ounce and 820.37 pounds an ounce respectively.

RISK APPETITE GROWS

Euro zone states are finalizing details of a 110 billion euro aid package for Greece, which is struggling to implement austerity measures attached to the aid.

Despite gold’s rally, Morgan Stanley said in a note, “We see further upside from current levels.”

Investment demand for bullion has been strong, with the world’s largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, New York’s SPDR Gold Trust, reporting a rise of 7 tonnes in its holdings to a record 1,166.002 tonnes on Wednesday.

The more industrial precious metals — silver, platinum and palladium — rebounded on Thursday after selling off with most other commodities on Wednesday as risk aversion soared.

Platinum was at $1,634.50 an ounce, having earlier climbed 3 percent to $1,682 an ounce against $1,625 on Wednesday.

Meanwhile palladium was at $498 against $501.50 and silver was at $17.39 an ounce versus $17.43.

If you would like to find out how you could be paid cash for your broken, mismatched, out of style, unused gold jewelry while the spot price of gold stays at an all-time high paying you the most contact us soon before it drops. We make you an offer and pay you cash on the spot!

Leave your money at home. There is no need to buy anything & no presentation. Almost everyone has gold jewelry lying around. Bring it to the party and convert it to cash. A win-win for everyone with a company you can trust. Sell your unwanted gold to my trusted gold buyer! If you’re not sure its gold, we can tell you! If you have no gold, join in on the fun anyway!

This is how it works:

Gold is paying at an all time high! Most of us have an average of $300-500 worth of gold sitting in a drawer or jewelry box. This could be broken chains, mismatched earrings, old or out of style jewelry, dental gold, watches, coins, or any unwanted items. Our gold buyer pays top $$

You can also have parties at your workplace, clubs, or any venue you choose . The Gold Exchange will also attend parties for Charities, Fund-Raisers, Holiday Parties, Luncheons, Church, School, Wine tastings, Happy hours etc.

Host commission
10% of the total gold purchased that evening. The average Gold Party takes in over $5000, that’s $500 for the host. Having a gold party is fun and profitable for everyone! But it doesn’t stop there! We will also pay the Host 5% for any bookings that our representatives make for future events! So motivate your friends to also host a party!

The Gold Exchange owns their own refinery so they can pay you more for your gold GUARANTEED! >>>Click here to watch news video<<<

- Gold Parties – As Seen On Denver’s Channel 7 News

Home Gold Parties are by invitation only. These parties are fun, social events with no pressure to buy anything. Each person invited to the party will be given a turn to have their gold and/or coins evaluated. They will be given an offer and paid in cash if the offer is accepted.

Gold prices are at an all time high! We own our own refinery so we pay top dollar – GUARANTEED!

Make some extra cash by hosting a Gold Party Today
The Gold Exchange is an extraordinary opportunity to transform the jewelry you never wear into something more useful; money ! We pay cash on the spot!

It is incredibly rewarding and profitable to sell your gold items through the Gold Exchange, and even more rewarding to involve your friends and loved ones in the experience. The home Gold Party hype has people ready to make cash. It’s the most fun you will ever have hosting a party. Invite your friends to CASH in! A win-win for everyone, with a company you can trust, that is all about the gift of giving.

Ask us how you can earn extra cash by hosting your own gold party in Texas!
Click Here to Email Us
Party@thegoldexchange.us
Watch this video link to see what all the excitement is about!
Denver’s Channel 7 News – Gold Exchange Video

You’re Invited to have your own party!

“At Unicity International we Make Life Better by helping                  people Look Better, Feel  Better, and Live Better.” Stewart Hughes – CEO

I recently started with this company after I learned how many people have lost FAT not weight like most programs I have tried and failed at. Have you ever wished you could LOSE 10-20-30 pounds WITHOUT going on one of those crazy diets that NEVER WORK?

Of course you have – we all have.

If I told you that there is a product that has 3 global patents, 9 published clinical studies and that’s GUARANTEED to work or your money back would you be interested? DAH!!  Of course you would.  Congratulations – let me introduce you to BIOS LIFE SLIM

Go check it out for yourself WATCH THE VIDEO –>> CLICK HERE NOW!! This truly is a different – a ”FAT LOSS” not weight loss program.

Oh by the way, I’ve been using BIOS LIFE SLIM for 30 days and I’ve lost 9 POUNDS OF FAT!!

FYI – A POUND OF FAT is 7 to 9 times LARGER than a pound of muscle.  Just think what you would look like if you lost thatFAT you’ve always wanted to lose but couldn’t.  NOW YOU CAN with BIOS LIFE SLIM

I almost forgot to mention the side effects – BIOS LIFE SLIM will LOWER your LDL (bad cholesterol) by 31% on average and RAISE your HDL (good cholesterol) by 29%. It will also REDUCE your TRIGLYCERIDES (fat in your blood) that cause heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and obesity an average of 40% in just 60 days

One last thing that’s important – BIOS LIFE SLIM is listed in the PDR (Physicians’ Desk Reference) – all of this for about TWO DOLLARS a day!!  Can you imagine, all of this GOOD STUFF happening for just a couple of bucks a day.

Come join the FAT-LESS REVOLUTION – Start drinking BIOS LIFE SLIM today!!

www.FreeTamPogo.com

Think of the best online shopping experience you know. Now think of a place where you can purchase the same products you buy everyday at significant discounts. Imagine this business belongs to you! This is TamPogo: the one of a kind experience where “online shopping” meets “your very own online business.”

TamPogo is an online shopping site featuring thousands of high demand products sold at incredible prices. TamPogo is also the no-cost way to own an online business.

TamPogo is designed to generate income for you in two ways. First, you become an iRep for FREE and refer others as Direct Customers to buy products from your personalized TamPogo website.   Now you are on your way to creating real revenue!

* TamPogo is FREE to join
* There’s no membership fee
* There’s no registration fee
* There’s no parties to host
* There’s no product inventory to invest in
The marketing landscape has shifted dramatically from advertising agencies, billboards and expensive TV commercials to social networking and bogging. TamPogo continues to spread like wildfire through the viral power of the Internet.

Our Cause – Tampogo

What if you could purchase great products at wholesale prices AND feed a starving child for one week with every purchase…would you do it? Welcome to TamPogo! We have built our company based on this exact concept. We contribute to a major non-profit organization that focuses on ending world hunger. They have scientifically designed a food and vitamin product that provides all of the essential nutritional support for undernourished children in second and third world countries around the world. The food is packaged by volunteers and shipped to volunteer run distribution sites around the world. Every item you purchase on TamPogo, feeds a starving child somewhere in the world for one week. Imagine a world in which you help end hunger, poverty and hopelessness. It is possible and TamPogo is dedicated to make this dream a reality. You can be part of the solution by providing hope and nutrition for a hurting child.

The revolutionary new way to shop and make money online is here. Be a part of it.