Gold prices rallied to hit new records on Thursday, on track for their seventh consecutive daily rise, led by weak U.S. economic data and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's indications of potential rate cuts in the coming months if inflation eases. Spot gold rose 0.5% to $2,159.79 per ounce, as of 0432 GMT, after hitting an all-time high of $2,161.09 earlier in the session. Gold got a boost on Wednesday after Powell indicated that interest rate cuts were likely in the coming months "if the economy evolves broadly as expected," along with further evidence of falling inflation. Hence, in an uncertain financial environment, gold will remain safe investment for banks," said Jigar Pandit, head of commodity and currency business at BNP Paribas' Sharekhan. Spot silver rose 0.4% to $24.25, while platinum fell 0.1% to $906.82 per ounce, and palladium slipped 0.8% to $1,033.44.

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Persons: Jerome, Marcus Garvey, Gold, Powell, Powell's, Macquarie's Garvey, Jigar Pandit Organizations: Federal, Macquarie, Treasury, BNP Locations: U.S, China, Turkey, Russia, Poland