Gold is drawing safe-haven interest, several market watchers said, as there is a drop in risk appetite amid macro uncertainty.

FORBES: FOCUS: Speculators Mostly Return As Buyers To Metals -- CFTC Data

Cash reserves that have funded SWFs have accrued from several sources such as foreign currency deposits, gold holdings, Special Drawing Rights, petroleum, and state pensionsSWFs are essentially a byproduct of globalization.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: The danger of sovereign wealth funds

Super-G gold medalist Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal, quickest on the downhill, slid out near the finish to spark scenes of wild celebration as Miller realized the gold was his after drawing blank in the 2006 Winter Games in Turin.

CNN: Bode Miller wins first Olympic gold medal

Besides the Chinese data, gold and other commodities also are drawing support from a softer U.S. dollar, said Bob Haberkorn, senior commodities broker with R.

FORBES: Chinese Data Sends Some Base, Precious Metals To Highest Levels In More Than A Month

But in 1969, as the strains between America's budget deficit and the dollar's gold peg emerged, an artificial reserve asset was created: the Special Drawing Right (SDR), run by the IMF.

ECONOMIST: Is there a better way to organise the world��s currencies?