Spot gold broke through the $2,700 barrier for the first time, while gold futures saw huge volumes of traders kick in despite a stronger dollar, higher real interest rates, lower crude oil and record highs in equities,

Gold futures rise 0.5% to $2,705.10 a troy ounce, having peaked at a new record of $2,712.70 in late European trading.

Gold futures climbed above $2,700 an ounce on Thursday, with prices based on the most-active contract poised to settle at a fresh record high. "Uncertainty surrounding the U.S. economic outlook contin