Gold prices edge up -----

Gold prices advanced on Monday, as the metal's appeal was boosted by safe-haven demand owing to tensions in the Middle-East, while markets raised bets that the Federal reserve will cut rates sooner than expected, reports Reuters.
Spot gold was up 0.2 per cent at $2,053.00 per ounce, as of 1026 GMT. US gold futures rose 0.3 per cent to $2,057.50, with trading expected to be low due to the Martin Luther King Day holiday.
The war between Israel and Hamas has passed the 100-day mark as Israel continues its fierce offensive, while the Houthi militia's threat to respond to US air strikes on Yemen kept risks elevated.
Gold tends to perform well during economic turmoil, with reliability that can help offset the risk of more volatile assets in conditions such as geopolitical uncertainty.
"Spot gold is also rising as markets cling on to hopes that the Fed will cut its benchmark rates as early as March," said Han Tan, chief market analyst at Exinity Group.
"Gold's window for posting fresh record highs should remain open as long as the Fed can move in line with market expectations," Tan added. Bullion hit an all-time high of $2,135.40 on December 4.
In other metals, spot silver rose 0.2 per cent to $23.21 per ounce, platinum climbed 0.7 per cent to $911.58, palladium gained 0.4 per cent to $979.57.