In the days ahead, our train will pass a succession of monstrous eastbound freight services, groaning with raw materials: Albertan oil and yellow sulphur, British Columbian coal and lumber, but mostly grain from the prairies.

BBC: The wonders of Canada by rail

The mother returned with a plate and placed it on the rug: crumbled feta and sliced tomato submerged in the pee yellow of cotton oil.

NEWYORKER: Naima

Behind the vessel, a speedboat, a series of empty plastic oil jugs blue, green, yellow, black bobbed in the water.

NEWYORKER: Neptune��s Navy

However, sharply higher crude oil prices did limit selling pressure in the precious yellow metal.

FORBES: Comex Gold Ends Weaker On U.S. Dollar Strength

All of this is supportive for gold prices, and it may prompt people to buy the yellow metal as an inflation hedge as worries that the current high oil prices will last into the summer, said Bart Melek, vice president and director, head of commodity strategy, rates and foreign exchange research and TD Securities.

FORBES: METALS OUTLOOK: Higher Gold Prices Seen For Next Week As Iran Tensions Lend Support

The yellow metal was supported by a weaker U.S. dollar index and higher crude oil prices.

FORBES: Comex Gold Ends Firmer On Weaker U.S. Dollar, Higher Crude Oil

But in the early hours of this morning they will burning the midnight oil one last time as Australia's latest national hero cycles down the Champs-Elysees wearing a yellow jersey and with a flute of champagne in his hand.

BBC: Cycling fans' endurance rewarded

The precious yellow metal was boosted by a sharply lower U.S. dollar index and sharply higher crude oil prices.

FORBES: Comex Gold Ends Sharply Higher On Bullish "Outside Markets"