LONDON, England - February 24, 2011 - The price of gold is back near record highs, as spreading turmoil in Libya and the Middle East sends investors looking for safe havens.

But fallout from political strife also poses a risk for gold companies. Surging oil prices are eating into the bottom line.

Gold has risen by almost 10% since late January, when protests began to build in Egypt against former president Hosni Mubarak. Political unrest in northern Africa then moved to Libya, Africa’s third-largest oil producer.