PRECIOUS-Factors To Watch on Feb 21

                                
  LONDON, Feb 21 (Reuters) -  Gold rose to a seven-week high
on Monday as spreading political tensions in the Middle East
boosted the metal's appeal as a safe-haven asset, while silver
and palladium hit historic highs on expectations of increasing
industrial demand.
                                
 For latest market report, see [GOL/]

                                
  PRICES
  * Spot gold <XAU=> was bid at $1,396.75 at 0759 GMT from
$1,388.58 late in New York on Friday. 
                                
 * Silver <XAG=> was at $33.33 from $32.46. Earlier, the
metal touched a 31-year high at $33.38.
                                
 * Platinum <XPT=> was at $1,839.99 from $1,833.50.
                                
 * Palladium <XPD=> was at $855.22 from $848.25. Ealier it
touched a ten-year high at $858.97.
                                
 
                                
 DATA/EVENTS
                                
 * Germany flash PMI's for February, 0825 GMT
                                
 * Euro zone flash PMI'S for February, 0858 GMT
                                
 * Germany IFO survey for February, 0900 GMT
                                
 [ECI/US] [ECI/EURO] [ECI/GB] [M/DIARY] [MTL/DIARY]
                                
 
                                
 MARKET NEWS
                                
 *Oil prices jumped by over a dollar and Asian shares mostly
eased on Monday as spreading tensions in Libya and other
oil-producing regions encouraged some mild profit taking after
last week's solid gains. [MKTS/GLOB]
                                
 * European shares were set to slip from near 29-month highs
on Monday, with spreading tension in Libya and other
oil-producing regions encouraging profit taking, though energy
companies might rise as crude prices gain. [.EU]
                                
 * The euro dipped on profit-taking on Monday after hitting
its highest level in more than 10 days as a European Central
Bank official kept alive the prospect of the ECB hiking interest
rates before the Federal Reserve. [USD/]
                                
 * Oil jumped by over $1.00 a barrel, as violent clashes in
OPEC-member Libya heightened fears of social unrest spreading
across the Middle East and North Africa and disrupting supplies
in the major oil-producing region. [O/R]

                                
 
                                
 FUNDAMENTALS
                                
 * Holdings in the world's largest silver-backed
exchange-traded fund, iShares Silver Trust <SLV>,  rose to
10,519.05 tonnes by Feb. 18 from 10,438.56 tonnes on Feb. 17.
[ID:nTOE71J00Q]
                                
 * The world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, the
SPDR Gold Trust <GLD>, said holdings fell to 1,223.098 tonnes by
Feb. 20, its lowest in nine months, from 1,224.008 tonnes on
Feb. 15. [ID:nTOE71J00O]
                                
 
                                
 TECHNICALS
                                
 * Gold support at $1,379 an ounce, resistance at $1,402 an
ounce and 14-day RSI at 66.
                                
 * Platinum support at $1,828 an ounce, resistance at $1,852
and 14-day RSI at 58.
                                
 * Silver support at $31.75 an ounce, resistance at $33.70
and 14-day RSI at 77.
                                
 
                                
 For related news and prices, click on the codes in brackets:
Spot gold/silver  <XAU=> <XAG=>  Platinum/palladium <XPT=><XPD=>
Gold lease rates         <LGLR>  Comex gold futures      <0#GC:>
Europe/Asia prices   <GOLD/EU1>  <GOLD/EU2>  <GOLD/ASIA1>
CBOT 100 oz gold futures <0#ZG:>
RELATED NEWS AND OTHER TOPICS
Precious metals news      [GOL]  All metals news           [MTL]
Metals summary     [GLANCE/MTL]  Index of summaries    [GLANCE/]
All commodities news        [C]  Metals diary        [MTL/DIARY]
Ldn Bullion Mkt Assoc  <LBMA01> Foreign exchange rates   <FX=S>
SPEED GUIDES
<COMMODS> <PRECIOUS1> <PRECIOUS/FUT1> <PRECIOUS/CASH1>
<PRECIOUS/SWAP1> <PRECIOUS/VOL1> <REUTERS>
                                
 (Reporting by Silvia Antonioli; editing by Keiron Henderson)
(silvia.antonioli@reuters.com; +44 20 7542 0901; Reuters
Messaging: silvia.antonioli.reuters.com@reuters.net))