Gold touches two-month high in Europe

Gold rose on Monday, touching its highest in two months as unease over the economic policies of US President Donald Trump pushed investors towards safer assets while the dollar and US bond yields fell.
Trump at his inauguration promised to put "America first", while his administration said it would withdraw from or renegotiate important trade agreements, raising fears that a protectionist White House could reduce global trade.
Uncertainty over Trump's policies sent the dollar to a 1-1/2 month low against a basket of currencies, while bond yields slipped from recent highs.
A weaker dollar makes gold cheaper for holders of other currencies, while lower yields reduce the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion.
Spot gold was up 0.3 percent at $1,213.06 an ounce by 1304 GMT. It earlier touched $1,219.43, its highest since November 22. US gold futures were up 0.6 percent at $1,212.4.
"The story is one of a weaker dollar and political uncertainty," said Danske Bank analyst Jens Pedersen.
Gold finished last week up 1 percent for its fourth straight week of gains and longest consecutive string of weekly increases since July.
Underscoring the bullish view, data from the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) showed that speculators raised their net long positions in COMEX gold contracts for a second week in the week to January 17.
Precious metal funds also had their biggest inflows in five months in the week to January 18, according to Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
"Momentum indicators are biased to the upside," said ScotiaMocatta analysts, targeting $1,255.70 an ounce.
But gold faces resistance, at $1,219, that it may struggle to break, Reuters' technical analysis shows.
The gains could also be derailed by US interest rate rises that could begin as early as March, faster than expected by the market, Danske's Pedersen said.
"That would be negative for gold and counter the effect of political uncertainty," he said.
Two governors of regional branches of the US Federal Reserve said on Friday that economic strength warranted interest rates increases.
Higher rates mean that bond prices fall and yields rise, making such investments more attractive to those looking for safe-haven assets. Though gold is such an asset, it does not offer a yield to investors and costs money to store and insure.
Among other precious metals, silver was up 0.3 percent at $17.12 an ounce and platinum rose 0.3 percent to $979.7.
Palladium was flat at $785.4, having earlier touched $795.6, its highest since May 2015.
Analysts at Julius Baer said that investors were too optimistic after palladium, which is used in the automotive industry for emission-controlling catalytic converters, jumped 4.8 percent last week.
Car sales this year in China and the US would fall short of investors' hopes, they said. "A dent is looming," they added.