Gold closes above $900 for first time in weeks, rising for 2nd straight day

Gold prices rise for 2nd straight day

NEW YORK — Gold prices are higher, closing above $900 for the first time in three weeks as investors move some money back into the safe-haven investment while stocks waver on Wall Street.

Oil and grain prices are also up slightly.

Demand for gold has picked up amid a mixed bag of earnings reports and some disheartening data on the housing market.

Existing home sales dropped 3 percent in March — a sign that the housing market remains distressed. Weaker-than-expected earnings at shipping company UPS and a rise in unemployment claims are adding to the worries about the economy.

Gold prices have benefited the past few days from some of this uneasiness.

Gold for June delivery is up $14.10 to $906.60 an ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange.