Analysts indicate that gold futures are rising amid a de-escalation of Middle East tensions. According to Vivek Dhar of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia in a research note, the easing of tensions followed "Trump's announcement to temporarily suspend a US-led plan to provide safe passage for vessels through the Strait of Hormuz." The analyst noted that since gold hit an intraday high of $5,422 per ounce on March 2, the movement of gold futures has largely been inversely correlated with the direction of Middle East tensions. Dhar added, "Gold's advance may be driven by any hopes of a ceasefire in the Middle East, market expectations for interest rate cuts as high energy prices weigh on global growth, and concerns about the Federal Reserve's independence." Spot gold was last up 1.5%, at $4,625.28 per ounce.
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