Safe-haven gold breaks $2,700/oz level as uncertainty looms
Hezbollah says it will escalate war with Israel
Bullion prices up 2% for the week
Silver set for weekly gain
Adds comments, graphic and updates price
By Ashitha Shivaprasad
Oct 18 (Reuters) -Gold breached the $2,700-per-ounce level on Friday for the first time ever, as U.S. election jitters and simmering Middle East tensions boosted safe-haven demand, while a looser monetary policy environment also added fuel to the rally.
Spot gold XAU= firmed 0.6% to $2,709.28 per ounce by 0430 GMT and gained 2% this week. U.S. gold futures GCcv1 rose 0.6% to $2,724.50.
Gold could gather further traction given the fluidity of election developments and geopolitical uncertainties, said OCBC FX strategist Christopher Wong.
Hezbollah said it will escalate war with Israel after the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
Elsewhere, with less than three weeks remaining to cast votes this U.S. presidential election, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican former President Donald Trump are stretching for the support of every last voter.
"Gold has scoffed at a surging dollar and rallies at every chance it gets. It's just a bull market that shows no signs of exhaustion," said Tai Wong, a New York-based independent metals trader. USD/
U.S. economic data released overnight pointed to a strengthening economy, which boosted the U.S. dollar. But traders still see a 90% chance of a Federal Reserve rate cut in November. The European Central Bank cut interest rates for the third time this year as the euro zone economy sags.
Lower rates increase the non-yielding bullion's appeal.
Bullion will continue to perform well over the long term, benefiting from the precarious fiscal situations of many Western nations, and the global desire for a store of value independent of other assets and institutions, said Ryan McIntyre, senior portfolio manager at Sprott Asset Management.
Delegates to the London Bullion Market Association's annual gathering predicted gold would rise to $2,941 over the next 12 months and silver to $45.
Spot silver XAG= rose 0.9% to $31.97 and headed for a weekly gain. Platinum XPT= added 0.6% to $997.80 and palladium XPD= increased 0.6% to $1,048.55.
Spot gold price in USD per oz https://reut.rs/3Ug7GQz
Reporting by Ashitha Shivaprasad in Bengaluru; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu, Rashmi Aich and Janane Venkatraman
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