Gold prices hit the $1,000 target for the first time on Thursday as fears about a possible recession increased and the U.S. dollar continued to weaken. The dollar hit yesterday new lows against the euro and sank to 13-year lows against the yen, while crude oil prices busted through the $110 barrier. Still, there have been a handful of notable names that have benefited from the news to trade up to new highs.

Gold has been strong lately, and gold stocks have been following gold's lead. It seems like gold is following its upside trend today as well, as the current surging oil futures made gold prices relatively cheaper for foreign investors who use other currencies.

However, some analysts believe this is far from being over and expect even higher values for the price of gold. Clément Gignac, National Bank Financial 's chief economist and chief strategist, believes that gold prices will reach $1,500 an ounce within the next 12 to 18 months. Nick Barisheff, portfolio manager of the Millennium Bullion Fund, shares the same belief and anticipates that gold could even touch the $2,000 to $3,000 mark in the "next two to three years."

As Michael Fowlkes discussed yesterday, gold prices have been rising strongly over the past few days as fears about a possible recession increased and the U.S. dollar continues to weaken. Gold for February delivery rose in the previous session $9.10 to end at $869.10 an ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange. There have been a handful of notable names that have benefited from these news to trade up to new highs.

Gold has been strong lately, and gold stocks have been following gold's lead. Gold had a very strong day yesterday, with prices breaking through a new record for the second straight day. Josh Bridges, analyst at JP Morgan, anticipates the new year would be a strong one for gold as "it must be remembered that gold is typically a late-stage performer."

For 25 years, Steven Halpern, editor of TheStockAdvisors.com, has surveyed the leading financial newsletter advisors asking for their favorite stocks for the coming year. This article is one of 100+ ideas in the Best Stocks for 2008 report.

"The commodity markets have been rising strongly in recent years, propelled by growing demand," says Mary Anne Aden, editor of The Aden Forecast.

"The ongoing boom in China and other emerging markets has been driving these markets higher and there's no sign this will end any time soon. This has consistently placed commodity-related stocks like energy, natural resource and precious metals into the top performing stock category. The same will likely apply in 2008.

"My favorite conservative idea for 2008 for investors to take advantage of the rise in precious metals is by buying the StreetTracks Gold Trust (NYSE: GLD), an exchange-traded fund. Since gold's rise still appears to be in its early phase, it should do well in the year ahead based on demand alone.

"The same is also true of energy. China's demand has been a primary factor driving the oil price higher. With the Olympics coming to China this Summer, this demand is unlikely to diminish. A good way to benefit is to buy the Energy Select SPDR (ASE: XLE), my favorite speculative ideas for 2008."