NEW YORK — Gold surged Tuesday, nearly setting another record high, as investors had second thoughts about how much long-term debt relief a European bailout package will provide. Investors returned to safe investments again, a day after stocks and other riskier assets rallied on news that European leaders agreed to a nearly $1 trillion rescue package aimed at helping Greece and other weak European economies manage their debt loads. Gold for June delivery jumped $19.50 to settle at $1,220.30 an ounce. Earlier in trading, gold rose as high as $1,225.20 an ounce, just shy of the record $1,227.50 it set in December. Gold is "really being looked at as an alternative currency right now," said Nicholas Brooks, head of research and investment strategy at ETF Securities. Silver for July delivery jumped 74.2 cents, or 3.8 percent, to $19.294 an ounce. July platinum rose $7.30 to $1,700.80 an ounce, while June palladium rose $7.70 to $532.20 an ounce. July copper fell 2.15 cents to $3.2065 a pound. Benchmark crude for June delivery fell 43 cents to $76.37 a barrel. In other June contracts, heating oil rose 1.99 cents to $2.1401 a gallon. Gasoline rose 2.26 cents to $2.1952 a gallon. Natural gas dipped 3.9 cents to $4.131 per 1,000 cubic feet. Wheat for July delivery rose 0.5 cent to $4.9325 a bushel, while corn rose 6.5 cents to $3.77 a bushel. Soybeans rose 5 cents to $9.66 a bushel.

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