US gold jumps 1 pct on technical buying, Iran woes

NEW YORK, March 26 (Reuters) - U.S. gold futures jumped 1 percent early on Monday, boosted by a combination of technical buying, rising energy prices and heightened geopolitical tensions after Iran vowed to continue its nuclear program.
At 10:38 a.m. EDT (1438 GMT), most-active gold futures for April delivery on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange were up $6.40, or 1 percent, at $663.70 an ounce, trading from $657.10 to $666.50.
One COMEX floor trader said that Monday's rally was largely helped by buying based on technical levels.
"Gold's just made $664. That's a technical breakout on charts," he said.
Oil climbed to $63 a barrel on Monday, setting a 2007 record, on growing tension between Iran and the West over Tehran's nuclear work and its capture last week of British servicemen. U.S. crude hit a three-month high of $63.30 a barrel before retreating to $62.93 by midmorning.