Precious Metals Surge After US Captures Maduro

Precious metals prices surged on Monday as investors flocked to safe-haven assets amid escalating geopolitical tensions following the United States' capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro over the weekend.

Spot gold climbed as much as 2.3 percent to above $4,430 an ounce early in the session, settling around $4,402 by midday in London trading. Silver posted sharper gains, rising nearly 5 percent to $75.86 an ounce. Other metals also advanced, with platinum up 1.5 percent to $2,175 an ounce and palladium edging 0.4 percent higher to $1,645 an ounce. The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index, a measure of the U.S. currency's strength, increased 0.2 percent to 98.76.

The price movements came after U.S. forces captured Maduro and his wife from their residence on Saturday in an operation that officials described as targeted but which reportedly resulted in civilian casualties. U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Washington intends to assume control of Venezuela following the ouster, emphasizing the need for full access to the country's resources, including its vast oil reserves. The move has left the South American nation's governance in limbo, exacerbating long-standing...