CHICAGO, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Gold futures on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange settled at a record high since the summer 2016, as prices built on a steep rally a day earlier.

The most active gold contract for February delivery roe 6.6 U.S. dollars on Thursday, or 0.49 percent, to close at 1,362.90 dollars per ounce.

Gold prices should be also underpinned by fears that global share prices could fall back from record highs and concern over protectionism in the , analysts said.

As for other precious metals, silver for March delivery added 12.6 cents, or 0.72 percent, to settle at 17.615 dollars per ounce. Platinum for April rose 16.3 dollars, or 1.6 percent, to close at 1032.1 dollars per ounce.