Bullion notches best weekly price gain since 2008

London

GOLD'S explosive start to 2016 has lifted prices to the highest level in a year as investors flee a bear market in global stocks, a weakening dollar and the fallout from the spread of negative interest rates.

Futures in the metal posted the biggest weekly jump in seven years even as prices fell on Friday, while a measure of gold mining shares was poised for the highest close since July.

Producer Barrick Gold Corp has surged 65 per cent this year, after five straight annual losses, while Newm…