Gold prices rise on increasing investor interest in safe assets due to tensions over Ukraine.

At the weekend in eastern Ukraine escalated the situation after the announcement of the Kiev authorities to start a large-scale security operation involving the Ukrainian Armed Forces in connection with the seizure by gunmen administrative back in several cities of Donetsk region.

" Tensions between Russia and the West over Ukraine support the price of gold ," - said ABN Amro strategist Georgette Boel .

In this case an additional factor supporting gold prices , Boel calls expectations that U.S. interest rates will remain low for an extended period of time.

Support prices for precious metals had a report on U.S. retail sales . Data from the Ministry of Commerce showed that consumer spending in the U.S. has improved markedly in March , which is an early sign of the acceleration of economic growth in the spring of this year.

According to the report , the seasonally adjusted March retail sales rose by 1.1 % - to $ 433.9 billion last increase was the highest since September 2012 , and the total volume exceeded levels seen in November. Add that many experts predicted increased sales by 0.8%. The February figure sales was revised upward to 0.7 % from 0.3 %.

The cost of the June gold futures on the COMEX today rose to $ 1331.40 per ounce.