Gold ETFs Higher; Metal Touches $1,800 | ETF Trends

Gold exchange traded funds were higher Friday in the wake of an eagerly anticipated speech from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.

Gold prices briefly jumped to $1,800 an ounce before pulling back.

ETFs were volatile Friday after Bernanke didn’t announce any additional immediate support for financial markets. [Bernanke Speaks]

“All focus turns to Bernanke’s comments out of Jackson Hole. Technically speaking, the $210 pullback from the record high earlier this week  was a much needed shakeout to restore some semblance of sanity to the market,” a bullion trader told FastMarkets.

SPDR Gold Shares (NYSEAarca: GLD), the largest gold ETF, was up fractionally.