Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Gold futures reached a record high of US$ 1,233.75 per ounce on Wednesday as investors switched from currencies onto safe haven buying.

Gold prices were trading above $ 1,200 per ounce through the week, on the back of rising long term concerns over European sovereign debt.

On the other hand, crude oil started the week at $79.71 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, and weakened from a 19-month high last week, due to surplus oil stocks in US inventories and the rising strength of the greenback amid the European debt worries.

At the end of the week, oil prices dropped down to $ 75.52 a barrel.

BBN/SS/SI/AD-15May10-9:12 pm (BST)