Gold hit a six-year high on Friday as investors piled into the safe haven metal amid an escalating US-China trade war, and the prospects of a return to ultra-loose monetary policy by the Fed.

Gold for delivery in December, the most active futures contract trading in New York, touched a high of $1,461.90 an ounce before settling $25.10, or 1.8%, higher at $1,457.50 on the Comex market.