By Claudia Assis, MarketWatch SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Gold futures posted gains on Tuesday and silver hit a three-month high as investors sought out both metals to protect against their wealth against signs the economic recovery is faltering. Gold for December delivery added $8.50, or 0.7%, to $1,247.80 an ounce on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. It is trading less than 1% from bullion's record high of $1,258.30 an ounce on June 18. Gold also looks set to post monthly gains, rising about 5.5% in August. That compares to a decrease of 5% in July and would be gold's largest advance since April. Silver for December delivery added 23 cents, or 1.2%, to $19.30 an ounce. If prices hold, it will be silver's highest close since mid May. Copper, however, bucked the trend to post losses. Copper for December delivery retreated 4 cents, or 1%, to $3.38 a pound as investors took profit on the metal. Copper on Monday hit a four-month high. Earlier Tuesday, gold held onto gains as the S&P's Case-Shiller home price index showed prices have risen over the past three months and moved up 4.2% in the past year. Investors will have a thick stash of reports to go through this week, with Tuesday still bringing the consumer confidence index and the Federal Reserve minutes of its last meeting. Later in the week, employment numbers and economic growth will be the focus.

Source