DJ PRECIOUS METALS HIGHLIGHTS: Top Stories Of The Day

LONDON, Mar 03, 2008 (Dow Jones Commodities News via Comtex) --

TOP STORIES:

Gold, Platinum Hit Record Highs; Silver 27-Year High

Gold and platinum futures hit record highs and silver 27-year highs Monday as the recent bull run continues in the precious metals.

Spot Platinum Hits Record Above $2,203.50/Oz On Dlr Weakness

Spot platinum is hitting record highs above its previous record of $2,203.50 a troy ounce, as the precious metal complex rises due to a weakening U.S. dollar.

STORIES OF INTEREST

Peru's January Copper, Zinc, Silver, Gold Output Rises

LIMA (Dow Jones)--Peru's output of copper, zinc, silver and gold rose in January, while tin production declined, the Energy and Mines Ministry said Monday.

S Africa Elec Outages Spark Price Gains In Platinum Grp Metals

TORONTO (Dow Jones)--Prices of both platinum and its sister metal palladium have risen sharply in recent days as investors speculate there may be tighter supply of the metals in the future, says an analyst.

Gold Fields: 1 Mln Fatality-Free Shifts At Two Operations

JOHANNESBURG (Dow Jones)--Gold Fields Ltd., Africa's second-largest gold producer, Monday said its Driefontein Gold Mine on South Africa's West Rand and Beatrix Gold Mine in the Free State province both have achieved one million fatality-free shifts.

Harmony In Two Deals With African Precious Minerals

JOHANNESBURG (Dow Jones)--Harmony Gold Mining Co. Monday said it has entered two transactions with exploration company African Precious Minerals, including the sale of certain prospecting rights.

MARKETS:

PRECIOUS METALS: Gold, Platinum Hit Records Amid Fund Buying

Gold and platinum futures hit record highs and silver a 27-year peak Monday as commodities in general remained strong and the dollar weak, leading to more fund buying, traders and analysts said.

PRECIOUS METALS: Spot Gold Eyes $1,000/Oz, Watches Dollar

LONDON (Dow Jones)--Spot gold was hovering near record levels Monday as markets priced in more bad news for the U.S. dollar and with crude oil at above $100 a barrel traders and analysts see gold taking out $1,000 key level this week if not this session.

-By Allen Sykora, Dow Jones Newswires; 541-318-8765; allen.sykora@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

03-03-08 1422ET