Precious-Gold traded near its lowest level in more than two months on Friday, with eyes on Ukraine escalating tensions and U.S. economic data. The yellow metal rebounded on Thursday after hitting a bottom of $1268.40 to avoid a daily closing below $1280 that could have triggered further sell off in the metal. Investors are keeping their attention on U.S. data ahead of next week’s Federal Reserve Open Market Committee`s meeting on monetary decision. Data released yesterday from the U.S. came mixed as while durable goods surpassed forecasts, jobless claims rose above median forecasts. Later in the day, a U.S. report may show consumer confidence was revised to 83.0 in April from a preliminary of 82.6. As long as the U.S. economy is showing positive data, gold prices should face more downside pressure as it loses haven demand. Growth "had picked up" after "lingering winter weather hampered business activity, the Fed’s Beige Book released last week said. However, the escalating tensions in Ukraine prevented stoked some haven demand on the metal. Ukrainian military forces killed up to five pro-Russian separatists on Thursday and Russia in response launched army exercises near borders. Russia is about to face more sanctions due to its restless dealing in Ukraine, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said yesterday. Meanwhile, gold is trading around $1293.78 an ounce after hitting a high of $1294.53 and a low of $1290.30. The U.S. dollar inched down versus a basket of major currencies to hover around 79.82, after hitting a peak of 79.87, according to the dollar index. Crude oil for June’s delivery rebounded to trade around $101.89 a barrel after touching a low of $101.40.

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