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Gold and silver shares continued their recent march higher on Friday, as the Philadelphia Gold & Silver Index (XAU) rose 1.7% to 203.36 in early afternoon trading.

With today’s advance, the XAU is now higher by 8.7% this week – putting it on pace for its best such stretch since a 12.5% advance from October 24-28, 2011.

Among gold mining companies, Harmony Gold (HMY) climbed 3.1% to $12.18 per share and Yamana Gold (AUY) rose 3.0% to $17.57 per share.