COMEX gold maintains elevated position near record high levels on safe haven demand amid ongoing geopolitical risks stemming from Middle East. The counter is quoting at $2682.50 an ounce, up 0.12% on the day. US President Biden suggested that Israel could target Iranian oil facilities in retaliation for a recent missile attack, sending oil prices higher and spurring demand for safer assets. Meanwhile, focus remains glued to the release of the closely-watched US monthly employment data later today that could influence expectations about the pace of the Federal Reserve's (Fed) rate-cutting cycle. This, in turn, will play a key role in driving the US Dollar (USD) demand in the near term and provide some meaningful impetus to the non-yielding yellow metal.