Driven by safe-haven demand following the U.S. arrest of Venezuelan President Maduro, gold prices rose alongside other precious metals. An analyst at Denmark’s Saxo Bank said, “Gold and silver rebounded as investors sought safe havens following U.S. action against Venezuela.” Donald Trump The U.S. plan to ‘take over’ Venezuela has further exacerbated governance-related uncertainty.” Last year, driven by interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, strong central bank demand, increased inflows into exchange-traded funds, and investors shifting from sovereign bonds and currencies to hard assets, gold prices rose nearly 65% cumulatively, marking their strongest annual performance since 1979.