Gold prices rose to near a one-week high on Monday, supported by a slight decline in the US dollar and rising tensions in the Middle East, which boosted appetite for safe havens.
Spot gold was up 0.4 percent at $2,021.09 an ounce by 0335 GMT, its highest since Feb. 13. U.S. gold futures were up 0.4 percent at $2,032.40 an ounce.
A UK-registered ship reported being attacked in the Bab al-Mandab Strait on Sunday, while the UK Maritime Trade Operations said the crew of one ship had abandoned it off the coast of Yemen after an explosion.
Meanwhile, the dollar index fell 0.1 percent, making the dollar-priced precious metal more attractive to buyers holding other currencies.
Among other precious metals, spot platinum fell 0.4 percent to $902.37 an ounce, palladium rose 0.9 percent to $958.66 an ounce, and silver fell 1.2 percent to $23.12 an ounce.
