CHICAGO, April 15 (Xinhua) — Gold futures on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange rose on Thursday as U.S. bond yields weakened.

The most active gold contract for June delivery rose 30.5 U.S. dollars, or 1.76 percent, to close at 1,766.8 dollars per ounce.

Gold also found support as geopolitical tension between the United States and Russia rose when the United States expelled several Russian diplomats and sanctioned some Russian companies over the SolarWinds hack.

Economic data released on Thursday were upbeat. Upbeat economic data usually dampen gold. But due to concern over inflation after re-opening of the economy, the effect of the data has been mitigated.

U.S. Department of Labor reported that 576,000 people filed for initial jobless claims during the week ending April 10, much lower than the 769,000 claims filed in the prior week.

The Federal Reserve reported that U.S. industrial production rose 1.4 percent in March, reversing a 2.6-percent drop in February.

U.S. Department of Commerce reported that U.S. retail sales increased 9.8 percent in March, following a 2.7-percent decrease in February.

The Philadelphia Federal Reserve manufacturing index jumped to a reading of 50.2 in April from a revised 44.5 in the prior month. This is highest level in almost 50 years.

The New York Federal Reserve’s Empire State Index rose to a reading of 26.3 in April from 17.4 in March, the highest reading since October 2017.

Silver for May delivery rose 44 cents, or 1.72 percent, to close at 25.964 dollars per ounce. Platinum for July delivery rose 22.8 dollars, or 1.94 percent, to close at 1,200.2 dollars per ounce.