NEW YORK, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Spot gold shot to six-year highs on Friday as fears of looming war in Iraq attracted heightened interest in the safe-haven metal, while the U.S. dollar weakened and blue-chip stocks sank, dealers said.
Spot was quoted at $369.10/9.90 an ounce at 1330 EST, after touching a high of $369.80, its highest mark since December 1996.
Bullion earlier fixed in the London afternoon session at $366.00 an ounce, its highest fix level since January 2, 1997, and up from the previous fix of $364.10.
The yellow metal, which acts as an insurance policy in troubled times while other financial markets are volatile, is 30 percent higher than at this time last year.
The dollar fell sharply against key European currencies Friday, making gold cheaper to buy overseas, while the Dow Jones 30 industrials tumbled more than 200 points on growing worries about a a possible U.S. attack on Iraq.