By Noel John (Reuters) -Gold prices dropped more than 1% on Thursday, pressured by a firm dollar and fading expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut in December, as investors waited for a delayed U.

China has been the biggest buyer of gold over the past few years and is rapidly closing the gold-gap with the U.S.

Gold has soared to record highs, but one expert warns that a stronger dollar or Fed policy shift could send prices lower. Here’s what that means for investors.

Gold and silver soften as dollar strength and fading Fed rate-cut odds pressure metals, leaving both markets range-bound ahead of key U.S. PMI and sentiment data.

The weakness of the US dollar and rumours of the Fed resuming asset purchases have been catalysts for gold's rise since the beginning of the week, but Thursday and Friday clearly showed that this is no longer a one-way street.

Growing geopolitical risk and a global de-dollarization strategy are driving central banks, particularly China, to purchase gold at levels more than ten times their official reports, fueling a record-breaking rally in bullion prices.

Gold price holds flat as traders watch delayed NFP, strong dollar pressure, and fading Fed rate-cut bets. Key levels and gold analysis shape the price prediction.

Spot gold edged down 0.1% to $4,072.87 per ounce in early Asian trade, while US futures rose slightly to $4,071.90 an ounce—a muted response that reflected caution rather than conviction.

Gold prices fell more than 1% on Tuesday as the dollar hit three-month highs, while traders awaited U.S. economic data for clues on the Federal Reserve's monetary policy path.

Non-dollar stablecoins offer euro, yen and gold-backed alternatives for on-chain payments and DeFi. This guide explains how they work and why they matter.