PRECIOUS-Factors to watch on Feb 22

                                
  LONDON, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Gold dipped on Tuesday after
rising to its highest in seven weeks, but sentiment remained
underpinned by deadly unrest in North Africa and the Middle East
as well as uncertainty over the future of oil prices, while
silver jumped to its strongest level since 1980.
                                
 For latest market report, see [GOL/]

                                
  PRICES
  * Spot gold <XAU=> was bid at $1,399.90 at 0729 GMT from
$1,405.95 late in New York on Monday. 
                                
 * Silver <XAG=> was at $33.25 from $33.85. The metal earlier
hit its highest level since 1980, above $34 an ounce.
                                
 * Platinum <XPT=> was at $1,832 an ounce from $1,846.45.
                                
 * Palladium <XPD=> was at $848.20 from $853.88.
                                
 
                                
 DATA/EVENTS
                                
 * U.S. TREASURY'S WARREN EVENT, Washington, 1400 GMT
                                
 * U.S. S&P/Case-Shiller home price index for Dec., 1400 GMT
                                
 * RIchmond Fed manufacturing/services indexes Feb., 1500 GMT
                                
 * U.S. consumer confidence Feb., 1500 GMT  
                                
 * Japan trade data, Jan 2350 GMT
                                
 * Japan imports and exports for Jan 2350 GMT
                                
 * WTO General Council meeting (to Feb. 23). 
                                
 [ECI/US] [ECI/EURO] [ECI/GB] [M/DIARY] [MTL/DIARY]
                                
 
                                
 MARKET NEWS
                                
 * Oil prices jumped and Asia stock prices fell as investors
took fright at the unfolding crisis in Libya and turned to safe
havens such as government bonds and gold. [MKTS/GLOB]
                                
 * The dollar rose broadly and the New Zealand dollar tumbled
as mounting tension in the Middle East and a deadly earthquake
in New Zealand drove investors to cut risk. [USD/]
                                
 * U.S. crude futures hit a 2-1/2 year high on concern that
violence in Libya could cut more of the OPEC-member's output and
that a similar story could play out in other top oil producers
in North Africa and the Middle East. [O/R]
                                
 * European shares were set to fall, extending sharp losses
from the previous session as concerns grew over the mounting
tensions in Libya and Asian stocks dipped. [.EU]
                                
 
                                
 FUNDAMENTALS
                                
 * Switzerland, one of the leading clearers of platinum group
metals in Europe, imported 2,797 kg of platinum and 662 kg of
palladium in January, data from the Swiss Federal Customs office
showed. [ID:nZCHMDE76C] 
                                
 * Mexican miners have said at least 50 silver, gold, copper
and zinc projects are attractive targets for mergers or
acquisitions and high metals prices will draw $4.4 billion in
mining investment to the country this year. [ID:nN21237729]
                                
 * Gold flow from Hong Kong to mainland China in 2010 more
than doubled on the year to 118.904 tonnes, the Hong Kong Census
and Statistics Department said on its website
(www.censtatd.gov.hk). [ID:nL3E7DM02Q]
                                
 
                                
 TECHNICALS
                                
 * Gold support at $1,393, resistance at $1,424, 14-day RSI
at 65.
                                
 * Silver support at $32.80, resistance at 35.55, 14-day RSI
at 73.
                                
 * Platinum support at $1,828, resistance at $1,867, 14-day
RSI at 55.
                                
 
                                
 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 Rebekah Curtis; Editing by Jason Neely)