Gold hits five-month high, geopolitical worries drive flight to safety

Gold hit a 5-month high on Wednesday after rising nearly 2 percent in the previous session, with investors seeking refuge in safe-haven assets due to rising tensions over U.S. relations with Russia and North Korea.

Japan`s Nikkei slid 1 percent in early trade, while MSCI`s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was near flat.

In contrast, gold climbed to $1,275.66 an ounce and touched its highest since November 10.