DIGITAL DARLING - BITCOIN.

Bitcoin BTC=BTSP crested above $16,666 on the Bitstamp exchange having doubled in value in just two weeks. Other exchanges quoted prices as high as $22,000, intensifying the debate about whether it is a bubble about to burst. 

The largest U.S. crypto currency exchange struggled to manage record traffic, with an upcoming launch of the first bitcoin futures contract further fueling investor interest. 

Some, however, warned the coming of futures might prove to be the downfall of the digital darling.

“Dragging Bitcoin into the futures market poses a risk of big players opening doors to short selling hell,” said Nae-em Aslam, chief market analyst at Think Markets UK. 

The spectacular rise of the crypto currency has stolen some thunder from gold bulls, providing an asset that is also seen as a hedge against inflation and government interference. 

Gold finally breached its recent tight trading range on Thursday to hit a four-month trough at $1,245.60 XAU=.

Oil prices had gone the other way as a threatened strike by oil workers in Nigeria forced a bout of short covering.

Brent futures LCOc1 were barely changed at $62.18 a barrel, having climbed 98 cents overnight. U.S. crude CLc1 was off 3 cents at $56.6