PRECIOUS-Gold surges on softer dollar, Russia-Ukraine tensions

* Gold rises nearly 2%, off two-month low hit Thursday * Gold technically wants to get back near $2,700 -analyst * Several US Fed officials due to speak this week * Palladium jumps more than 5% (Adds settlement price and update prices as of 1844 GMT) By Sherin Elizabeth Varghese Nov 18 (Reuters) - Gold prices soared on Monday, after six days of losses, as the U.S. dollar's surge stalled and heightened uncertainty over the Russia-Ukraine conflict rekindled safe-haven demand. Spot gold XAU= jumped 1.8% to $2,608.19 per ounce by 01:44 p.m. ET (1844 GMT), moving away from a two-month low on Thursday. U.S. gold futures GCv1 settled 1.7% up at $2,614.60. "Part of it is (President) Biden's announcement of long-range missiles for Ukraine to reach deeper into Russian territory. I think some of it is prompting safe-haven demand for gold," said Daniel Pavilonis, senior market strategist at RJO Futures. Gold, which is considered a safe investment during economic and geopolitical turmoil, posted its steepest weekly drop in more than three years last week as President-elect Trump's proposed tariffs are seen as potential drivers of inflation, which could prompt the Fed to slow its rate-cutting pace. This in turn boosted the dollar index to trade at a one-year high on Thursday. However, the greenback fell 0.4% on Monday after rising 1.6% last week. A softer dollar makes gold more affordable for buyers using other currencies. USD/ "Whether the Federal Reserve cuts or not, I think gold technically looks like it wants to get back near that $2,700 level," Pavilonis said. The U.S. central bank is widely expected to deliver a third rate cut in December, although recent data showed progress in bringing inflation back to its 2% target has stalled. At least seven Fed officials are scheduled to speak this week. Higher interest rates, which make non-yielding assets like gold less appealing, could further pressure the metal. "Bulls' next upside (gold) price objective is to produce a close above solid resistance at $2,650," said Kinesis Money. Spot silver XAG= rose 2.8% to $31.05 per ounce, platinum XPT= added 2.8% at $964.87 and palladium XPD= climbed 5.3% to $1,001.29. <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Gold VS Dollar https://tmsnrt.rs/4fUXsgP ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Reporting by Sherin Elizabeth Varghese in Bengaluru; Editing by Alexander Smith and Mohammed Safi Shamsi) (([email protected];))