PRECIOUS-Gold gains on weaker dollar, U.S.-China tensions

* Gold up for a third straight session
* Silver jumps to over three-month high
* Dollar falls to lowest since mid-March
* For an interactive graphic tracking the global coronavirus
spread, open https://tmsnrt.rs/3aIRuz7 in an external browser

(Adds comments, updates prices)
By K. Sathya Narayanan
June 1 (Reuters) - Gold rose to a more than one-week high on
Monday as the dollar weakened and jitters over rising tensions
between Washington and Beijing, as well as protests in U.S.
cities, boosted demand for the metal as a haven from risk.
Spot gold XAU= was up 0.5% to $1,735.57 per ounce by 1248
GMT, while U.S. gold futures GCcv1 eased 0.3% to $1,745.70.
"Higher tensions between China and the U.S. are bringing
safe-haven buying. Tensions within the U.S. are not helping the
cause, while the dollar is pretty much on its lows," said Afshin
Nabavi, senior vice president at precious metals trader MKS SA.
The dollar .DXY fell to its lowest since mid-March, making
gold less expensive for holders of other currencies. USD/
China's state media and the Hong Kong government lashed out
on Sunday at U.S. President Donald Trump's pledge to end Hong
Kong's special status if Beijing imposes new national security
laws on the city. Meanwhile, protests broke out across many U.S. cities after
an unarmed black man died in police custody last week. The
closely packed crowds have sparked fears of an increasing number
of coronavirus infections.
Gold is seen as a safe-haven asset during times of political
and economic uncertainty.
Earlier in the session gold rose as much as 1% to its
highest in more than a week, but it has since pared gains as
global equities jumped due to easing lockdowns. MKTS/GLOB
Gains in stock markets have triggered some profit-taking in
the gold price, said Ajay Kedia, director at Kedia Commodities
in Mumbai.
"We have seen a sharp rally in silver prices. That clearly
shows that people are moving out of gold and targeting silver,"
Kedia added. CFTC/ Silver XAG= rose 2% to $18.20 per ounce, having earlier
touched its highest since Feb. 25.
Palladium XPD= fell 0.8% to $1,929.95 per ounce, and
platinum XPT= eased 0.3%, to $835.68.