Gold may rise for the fourth straight week on speculation the recession will deepen in 2009, boosting the appeal of the precious metal as a store of value. Eighteen of 25 traders, investors and analysts surveyed from Mumbai to Chicago from Dec. 24 through Dec. 26 advised buying gold, which rose 4 percent last week to $871.20 an ounce in New York. Four said to sell, and three were neutral. Gold has outperformed stocks and most commodities this year as simultaneous recessions in the U.S., Japan and Europe reduced demand for raw materials and triggered a decline in asset values. The metal reached a record $1,033.90 in March and is headed for an eighth-straight annual gain. Most analysts surveyed on Dec. 18 and Dec. 19 anticipated gold’s gains last week. The survey has forecast prices accurately in 144 of 243 weeks, or 59 percent of the time.

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