Prices for gold and silver futures climbed sharply on Monday, with silver posting a standout gain, as geopolitical worries prompted a move into assets perceived as safe havens.
The gold futures for February delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange settled at 4,451.5 U.S. dollars per ounce, up 2.82 percent from the previous session. The silver futures for March surged 7.94 percent to close at 76.657 U.S. dollars per ounce.
Gold, silver futures surge as geopolitical tensions fuel demand
The U.S. military strike against Venezuela and the capture of its president, Nicolas Maduro, have sparked mass protests in Uruguay, where demonstrators have denounced the move as an act of imperialist aggression. The United States launched a series of attacks against Venezuela on Saturday, seizing President Maduro and flying him to the U.S. to stand trial. The actions against Venezuela have shocked the international community, triggering condemnation and raising serious concerns worldwide.
"On behalf of Uruguay's unions, civil organizations, and the united front of our people, we strongly condemn the U.S. imperialist aggression against Venezuela," said Matilde Pomi, protest organizer.
"This is a bloody and criminal invasion. We must understand that it affects the entire region. It's an attack on all of Latin America. We are all at risk," said one of the protesters named Patricia, who held a sign reading "Yankees are murderers."
Crowds also gathered outside the U.S. Embassy in Montevideo, expressing their outrage over the U.S. acts of aggression. Pedro Sassone, the Venezuelan Consul in Uruguay, called for the defense of Venezuela's sovereignty and independence.
"This is war, an invasion. Venezuela is under attack. We call on the peoples of the Americas and the world to stand together in defense of our sovereignty and independence," said Sassone.
Protests erupt in Uruguay after U.S. strikes Venezuela
