--Optimism for central-bank easing continues to support precious metals --Comex Dec gold up 0.3% at $1,693 a troy ounce, silver up 2.5% at $32.215 a troy ounce --Potential euro-zone stimulus actions could be announced at ECB meeting Thursday --Speculative interest in silver at 6-month high By Nicole Friedman NEW YORK--Gold futures edged to a fresh five-month intraday high Tuesday, buoyed by hopes that potential monetary easing in the U.S. could boost investor demand for precious metals. The most actively traded contract, for December delivery, was recently up $5.40, or 0.3%, at $1,693 per troy ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. Gold soared Friday to its highest settlement price since March after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke defended the central bank's past easing actions, fueling optimism that further easing could be implemented at the Fed's Sept. 12-13 policy-making meeting. Central-bank stimulus actions, which increase the amount of cash in the financial system, can boost precious metals as traders fearing inflation seek to store their wealth in hard assets. Traders are also eyeing the European Central Bank meeting Thursday for news of potential stimulus measures to shore up euro-zone economies, which could be supportive for gold prices. ECB President Mario Draghi said Monday at a closed European Parliament hearing that the central bank is free to buy government bonds maturing in three years or less, but a bond-buying program hasn't been announced. "We do expect the ECB action to be supportive of gold," said Standard Bank's Walter de Wet in a note. "A stronger euro and weaker dollar could see gold move above $1,700" a troy ounce, he said. After a quiet August, gold trading volumes were at their highest level of the month Friday. "Perhaps with the calendar turning the page to September, investors' appetite will increase," said TD Securities in a note. Meanwhile, silver for December delivery climbed more than gold Tuesday, recently trading up 2.5% at $32.215 a troy ounce. Demand for silver has increased as investors seek a cheaper hedge against potential inflation than gold, said George Gero, vice president of RBC Capital Markets Global Futures. Speculative positions in silver reached their highest level since the end of February in the week ended Aug. 28. Commerzbank forecast Tuesday that silver could reach $35 a troy ounce by the end of 2012. -Write to Nicole Friedman at nicole.friedman@dowjones.com

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