US gold settles at $1 096,20, up 23% for 2009

NEW YORK - Gold futures posted their biggest yearly gain in three decades on Thursday, rising for an unprecedented ninth consecutive year as dollar-hedging traders and central banks joined the rally even as safe-haven buying subsided.
Benchmark US February gold futures settled at $1 096,20 an ounce on the COMEX division of the NYMEX.
On a percentage basis, February gold rose 23% compared with $891,90 on Dec. 31, 2008 – short of 2007's rise of about 30 percent.
Gold hit a record high above $1,220 on Dec. 3 on a combination of renewed central bank interest, worries over paper currency depreciation and long-term inflation fears due to the massive economic stimulus programs.
Other precious metals staged equally impressive gains after last year's deep decline, with most active April platinum rising a record 56 percent and March palladium up 117 percent on improving economic conditions, as well as hope for a boost in physical demand from new U.S. exchange traded funds expected to launch soon.
Silver jumped 48,5 percent