LONDON: Gold rose early in Europe on Wednesday, gaining traction as investors softened their approach to some commodities, with a braver attitude toward so-called riskier assets and a slightly weaker dollar lifting sentiment. Investors took heart from the overall profit recovery in U.S. companies such as IBM and Apple, shifting their attention from concerns over fraud charges against Goldman Sachs, a major commodities trader, and Greece's debt problems. "Investors are getting increasingly risk friendly," said Heraeus trader Alexander Zumpfe. "Gold has established itself above $1,140 overnight and it seems like we will see higher levels over the course of the day," he added. In other precious metals, palladium jumped to a two-year high on the recovery in risk appetite and strong investor demand for palladium-backed exchange-trade funds. Looking ahead U.S. are set to feature again on Wednesday, with Morgan Stanley results Q1 results due. PRICES Spot gold was bid at $1,145.15 per ounce by 0645 GMT, up from $1,139.50 quoted late in New York on Tuesday. Palladium hit a two-year high at $560.50 and was last traded at $560.00 from $549.00 late on tuesday. Silver was at $17.97 from $17.81, while platinum rose to $1,729.50 from $1,714.00. DATA/EVENTS Bank of England April MPC minutes due. Analysts expect a unanimous vote to keep interest rates at 0.5 percent and the quantitative easing programme frozen at 200 billion pounds. If so, this would mark a fifth consecutive month of unanimity among the MPC.

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