Gold bullion firmed in Europe on Tuesday, but further volatility was expected with the market seeking a footing below a recent 25-year peak of $645.75 and keeping a close eye on currency and oil markets, traders said. Turbulent silver also bounded higher, hurdling the $12.00-an-ounce level, but traders were wary that current choppy conditions could see a rapid reversal in all precious metals. "It is all very steady at the moment, but it could come back any time. If there is any type of selling, we will be back down very quickly," a European trader said. By 1210 GMT, spot gold was $627.40/628.40 an ounce, compared with $622.80/623.80 late in New York on Monday. "I think people have lost direction at these levels," said Ellison Chu, senior vice president of Standard Bank Asia in Hong Kong. "(There's) some physical interest in silver and gold, but not much."