U.S. gold futures ended more than 2 percent higher Monday as sharp losses in the stock market and renewed credit worries stirred safe-haven demand for the precious metal. For the latest detailed report, click on [GOL/]. GOLD * Gold for June delivery GCM9 settled up $19.60, or 2.3 percent, at $887.50 an ounce on the COMEX division of New York Mercantile Exchange. * Ranged from $865.60 to $889.70. * June futures rose sharply as U.S. stocks broadly dropped nearly 4 percent, stirred by worries that problems would persist for the struggling banking sector. * U.S. financial shares were pummeled on Monday as Bank of America (BAC.N) posted a big increase in troubled loans, and its CEO said "credit quality will get worse before it will eventually stabilize and improve." * Gold helped by expectations that the worst has not passed, and that fear is coming back into the market - Frank McGhee, head precious metals trader with Integrated Brokerage Services. * Potential covering of recent short positions by hedge funds in the gold market could lead to higher prices in the near term - Mihir Dange, COMEX gold floor trader * Bullion prices may rise this week because of Akshaya Tritya festival, India's gold-buying festival, on April 27 - analysts. * The futures market largely ignored news that the SPDR Gold Trust ETF GLD saw its largest two-day outflow since early September last week, with its total holdings falling for a second day on Friday. [GOL/SPDR] * Noncommercial net long positions rose 2,083 to 129,895 lots, while open interest fell 2.3 percent to 336,930 contracts in the week up to April 14 - CFTC report. * Gold also rose in spite of a 9 percent decline in crude oil prices on worsening economic outlook. * Gold/oil ratio at 19.2 on Monday, compared with 17.3 in the previous session. * COMEX estimated midday electronic futures volume at 66,451 lots. Floor volume was not available due to a technical glitch. * COMEX gold open interest down 1,050 at 338,707 lots as of April 17. * Spot gold traded at $883.25 an ounce at 2:30 p.m. EDT (1830 GMT), up 1.8 percent from its late Friday quote in New York. * The London afternoon gold fix was $877.00 an ounce. SILVER * COMEX May silver SIK9 finished up 31.5 cents, or 2.7 percent, at $12.105 an ounce, following gold's gains. * Ranged between $11.725 and $12.165. * COMEX estimated midday electronic futures volume at 11,722 lots. Floor volume was not available due to a technical glitch. * Spot silver was at $12.07 an ounce, up 1.9 percent from its previous finish. * The London silver fix at $12.060 an ounce. PLATINUM * NYMEX July platinum PLN9 ended down $44.50, or 3.7 percent, at $1,167.10 an ounce on worries about the global economy because of a still battered banking system. * Spot platinum at $1,157.50 an ounce, down 3.9 percent from its late Friday quote. PALLADIUM * June palladium PAM9 closed down $7.55, or 3.2 percent, at $226.00 an ounce in sympathy with platinum's decline. * Spot palladium was at $225.50 an ounce, off 2.6 percent from its previous finish.

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