LONDON (Reuters) -Gold funds received their largest weekly inflow on record in the week to Wednesday, Bank of America Global Research said in a note citing EPFR data, a week in which the precious metal's price surged to a new record, before retreating sharply.

Gold funds saw inflows of $8.7 billion in the week BofA said, putting the inflows over the last four months at $50 billion, larger than all inflows in the prior 14 years. 

Gold spiked to a record of $4,381.21 per ounce on Monday before retreating as investors booked profits and momentum trades unwound. It was last at $4,092.60/oz.