Gold hits $800 an ounce on news of Afghan clash

Gold prices surged forward again on world markets Thursday afternoon, hitting a new record of $800 an ounce here. An early-afternoon surge sending prices up more than $70 an ounce was caused by reports of fighting between Soviet troops and Afghan Army units, dealers said. The price of gold had fallen off earlier in the day as investors cashed in on profits made in the spectacular price climb of recent weeks.