Gold scaled a new near-25-year peak on Monday as fund managers poured money into the metal due to worries about inflation and dollar weakness against the yen, dealers said. Market talk that some central banks might buy gold to increase the metal's share in their reserves boosted sentiment. Gold also gained in other currencies. In trading Monday, gold was at $537.9 an ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Earlier, in Asian trade, the precious metal briefly hit prices not seen since March, 1981. "In the near term, we are very close to an important level of $550 (an ounce)...