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Israel says it targets Iran's nuclear facilities

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U.S. military plans for civilian evacuations in the Middle

East

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All four metals on track for weekly gain

(Updates for Asia morning hours)

By Anmol Choubey

June 13 (Reuters) - Gold prices climbed on Friday to

their highest point in more than a month, on track for a weekly

gain, as investors sought safe-haven assets after Israel's

strike on Iran heightened Middle East tensions.

Spot gold was up 1.3% at $3,428.28 an ounce, as of

0134 GMT, after hitting its highest level since May 7 earlier in

the session. Bullion has gained more than 3.5% so far this week.

U.S. gold futures gained 1.4% to $3,449.60.

Geopolitical tensions escalated after Israel struck Iran as

tensions mounted over U.S. efforts to halt Iran's production of

atomic bomb materials.

"This latest spike in hostilities in the Middle East has

taken the focus off trade negotiations for now, with investors

making a play towards safe-haven assets in response," said Tim

Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade.

Israel declared a state of emergency, citing expected

missile and drone attacks from Tehran, and the U.S. military is

preparing for various contingencies in the Middle East,

including potential assistance with evacuating American

civilians, a U.S. official told Reuters on condition of

anonymity.

"Gold surged past resistance around the $3400 on news of the

airstrikes, and further upside could be in-store should the

escalation continue," Waterer said.

Signaling a cooling U.S. labor market and subdued inflation

pressures, the number of Americans filing new applications for

unemployment benefits held at an eight-month high last week,

while slowing domestic demand helped to restrain producer prices

in May.

The data released a day after the Labor Department reported

a moderate rise in consumer prices in May, bolstered

expectations of an earlier rate cut.

Traders are now expecting a 55-basis-point rate cut by the

year-end, starting in September rather than October as

previously anticipated.

Elsewhere, spot silver edged down 0.1% at $36.33 per

ounce, platinum fell 0.8% to $1,285.21, while palladium

was steady at $1,055.21. All three metals were headed for

weekly gain.