LONDON: Gold rose on Monday as tensions over North Korea fuelled safe-haven demand, while doubts about US President Donald Trump’s ability to enact pro-business policies pushed US bond yields to near two-month lows and weakened the dollar.

Spot gold was up 0.4 per cent at $1,288.90 an ounce at 1316 GMT, while US gold futures for December delivery were 0.2pc higher at $1,294.40 an ounce.

Investors braced for North Korea’s response to computer-simulated military exercises begun by South Korean and US forces on Monday that will continue until Aug 31.

Silver was up 0.9pc at $17.08 an ounce. Platinum was 0.5pc higher at $979.74. Auto catalyst metal palladium was 0.9pc higher at $931.58 an ounce after reaching $937.50, its highest in 16 years, helped by a rally in industrial metals.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2017