*

Dollar index just below a three-week high

*

U.S. delegation will pursue a Black Sea ceasefire

*

Israeli airstrike at Gaza hospital killed five, including

a

Hamas leader

*

Trump on Friday hinted at some flexibility regarding

tariffs

(Adds analyst comments, details, updates with mid-session

trading)

By Anjana Anil and Anushree Mukherjee

March 24 (Reuters) - Gold eased on Monday as the dollar

ticked up, while investors awaited fresh catalysts after last

week's rally saw bullion notch three consecutive record highs,

helped by geopolitical and economic concerns, and hopes of U.S.

interest rate cuts.

Spot gold fell 0.2% to $3,016.43 an ounce, as of 0302

GMT. U.S. gold futures were steady at $3,020.80.

Gold reached a record high of $3,057.21/oz on Thursday.

The dollar index drifted near a three-week high, making

greenback-priced gold more expensive for overseas buyers.

"Gold is still well positioned for further upside if markets

remain edgy about the possible negative growth effects of

tariffs, but this could be partially offset if a Russia-Ukraine

ceasefire deal comes closer to fruition," KCM Trade chief market

analyst Tim Waterer said.

A U.S. delegation will pursue a Black Sea ceasefire and

broader peace in Ukraine in talks with Russia on Monday, while

an Israeli airstrike at a hospital in Gaza on Sunday killed five

people, including a Hamas political leader.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced a wave of reciprocal

tariffs to take effect on April 2, which is likely to fuel

inflation and hinder economic growth.

However, Trump hinted on Friday there would be some

flexibility regarding tariffs.

"President Trump has left some wiggle room for the

reciprocal tariffs to potentially be less severe than feared,

which has lowered market anxiety to a degree but... it has also

sapped the gold price of a bit of momentum," Waterer said.

Zero-yield bullion is seen as a hedge against geopolitical

turmoil, economic uncertainties, and inflation.

The U.S. Federal Reserve held its benchmark rate steady in

the 4.25%-4.50% range last week. Policymakers see two

quarter-percentage-point cuts by 2025-end.

Spot silver firmed 0.1% to $33.06 an ounce, platinum

rose 0.3% to $977.80, and palladium added 0.2% to

$960.31.