INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Gold prices breached the key $3,200/oz level for the first time on Friday, fuelled by a weaker dollar and an escalating trade war that sent
investors rushing toward safe-haven assets.Spot gold was up 1.4% at $3,217.78 an ounce as of 0350 GMT
Bullion scaled an all-time peak of $3,219.84 earlier in the session, and has gained almost 6% this week.U.S
Spivak, head of global macro at Tastylive.The dollar was down nearly 1% against its major peers, making greenback-priced bullion cheaper for
overseas buyers.Major stock indexes also fell after U.S
President Donald Trump ratcheted up tariffs on Chinese imports to 145%, but hit a 90-day pause on previously announced tariffs for dozens of
tariffs, central bank demand, expectations of interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, geopolitical instability in the Middle East and
consumer prices fell unexpectedly in March but inflation risks are tilted to the upside, data showed.Traders now bet that the Fed will
resume cutting rates in June and probably reduce by a full percentage point by the end of 2025.Spot silver added 0.3% to $31.29 an ounce,
while platinum dipped 0.1% to $936.85
Palladium gained 0.8% to $916.18.Source: Reuters--Agencies
