NEW YORK June 21 (Reuters) - U.S. gold futures eased on Monday as investors took profits on the back of a global equity market rally, after the metal rose to record highs above $1,260 an ounce earlier in the session. * For the latest detailed report, click on [GOL/]. GOLD * August COMEX gold futures GCQ0 down $1.30 at $1,257 an ounce at 9:38 a.m. EDT (1338 GMT). * Ranged from $1,255.40 to $1,266.50 -- a record high. * Gold prices retreat as investors switch funds out of bullion and into the stock markets. [.N] * China's vow to allow a flexible yuan stirred economic optimism, lessening gold's safe-haven appeal. [ID:nN20208975] * Upward trend for gold clearly established, and the metal will rise to new highs barring a material change in sentiment - Dennis Gartman, publisher of the Gartman Letter. * Sentiment positive as global central bank gold reserves rose 276.3 tonnes in the first quarter of 2010 to 30,462.8 tonnes, with Saudi Arabia more than doubling its reported reserves - World Gold Council. [ID:nLDE65K1CX.] * COMEX estimated 9 a.m. gold futures volume at 47,883 lots. * Spot gold XAU= at $1,255.50 an ounce, against $1,255.35 late in the previous session. * London afternoon gold fix XAUFIX= at $1,254.75 an ounce. SILVER * COMEX July silver SIN0 up 8.10 cents at $19.265 an ounce as expectations of a flexible yuan boosts industrial metals. * Ranged from $19.140 to $19.460 -- highest since May 17. * COMEX estimated 9 a.m. volume at 17,164 lots. * Spot silver XAG= at $19.25 an ounce against $19.10 late in the previous session. * London silver fix XAGFIX= was at $19.37 per ounce. PLATINUM * NYMEX July platinum PLN0 up $21.80, or 1.4 percent, at $1,608.80 an ounce as a possible appreciation of Chinese yuan allows the world's third largest economy to import more industrial metals such as platinum, . * Spot platinum XPT= at $1,601 an ounce. PALLADIUM * September palladium PAU0 up $10.80, or 2.2 percent, at $502.20 an ounce, taking the lead from platinum. * Spot palladium XPD= was at $499.50. Prices at 9:53 a.m. EDT (1353 GMT) LAST NET PCT YTD CHG CHG CHG US gold GCQ0 1257.30 -1.00 -0.1% 14.7% US silver SIN0 19.280 0.096 0.5% 14.5% US platinum PLN0 1607.00 20.00 1.3% 9.2% US palladium PAU0 500.95 9.55 1.9% 22.5% Gold XAU= 1256.20 0.60 0.0% 14.6% Silver XAG= 19.26 0.17 0.8% 14.4% Platinum XPT= 1603.50 18.00 1.1% 9.4% Palladium XPD= 498.50 11.00 2.3% 22.9% Gold Fix XAUFIX= 1259.50 3.50 0.3% 14.1% Silver Fix XAGFIX= 19.37 60.00 3.2% 14.0% Platinum Fix XPTFIX= 1605.00 27.00 1.7% 9.5% Palladium Fix XPDFIX= 498.00 14.00 2.9% 23.9% (Reporting by Frank Tang; Editing by Marguerita Choy)

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