Gold pricescontinue to creep higher and are at session highs in midday U.S.trading Friday.The yellow metal is making a decent recovery from the solid losses scored onThursday.

A news report that Barrick Gold Corp. (NYSE: GOLD;TSX: ABX)is considering a hostile takeover of Newmont Mining Corp. (NEM)is another sign of the potential for continuing consolidation in thegold-mining sector and could help perk up investor interest in miningcompanies, analysts said.