Gold Leaps Ahead, Its Biggest Gain Of The Year

Gold prices are up more than 3 percent Monday, their biggest gain of the year.

The move was driven by physical demand from Asia, as well as investors betting that the Federal Reserve will continue its intervention in the U.S. economy, analysts said. Gold for December delivery jumped $43.30 to $1,337.30 per ounce.

Silver, which tends to move in the same direction as gold but is often more volatile, rose by an even bigger percentage. It jumped 5 percent, up $1.049 to $20.509 per ounce. Copper and platinum both rose more than 1 percent.

The price of U.S. benchmark crude dropped $1.14 to $106.91 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Wheat and corn both fell by less than 1 percent. Soybeans rose just more than 1 percent.