TOKYO, Nov. 25 (Reuters) – Gold rose to a record high above $1,175 on Wednesday, the second time this week it has notched up a new high on solid investment sentiment and expectations of more gold buying by the public sector.

Spot gold rose to an all-time high of $1,175.60 per ounce, before drifting lower to $1,174.70 as of 0243 GMT, up 0.5 percent from the notional close in New York.

It topped the previous high of $1,173.50 touched on Monday.

US gold futures for December delivery rose to a record high of $1,176.40.

The previous record high was the $1,174.00 marked on Monday.

A recent purchase of 200 tonnes of gold by India's central bank sparked a rally that lifted the precious metal to successive record highs with it gaining about 12 percent this month alone.

The purchase was part of a planned sale of 403.3 tonnes by the International Monetary Fund.

Russia, Sri Lanka and Mauritius have also since announced gold acquisitions.