Gold settled lower for a third session on Thursday, as hopes of another interest rate cut by the ECB and new monetary stimulus offered by the Bank of Japan failed to stem heavy selling of bullion by funds.
Gold ended lower after earlier tumbling to a nine-month low near $1,550 an ounce as deepening losses in crude oil and equities triggered a sell-off of commodities.
Gold fell 1.5 percent, its biggest one-day drop in more than a month, as economic optimism lifted U.S. equities to near a record high and weakened bullion's safe-haven appeal.
Gold settled higher in light holiday trade, as the market digested U.S. manufacturing and construction reports that painted a mixed picture of the economy ahead of the all-important nonfarm payrolls report later in the week.
Gold settled below $1,600 an ounce, as banks reopened in Cyprus for the first time in two weeks without signs of panic withdrawals, sapping demand for low-risk assets.
Gold rose 0.5 percent, snapping a three-day losing streak, as renewed euro zone worries and hopes the Federal Reserve will continue its loose monetary policy triggered bullion buying.
Gold extended initial losses, hitting its lowest in ten days as investors unloaded safe-haven assets and sought equities after Cyprus struck a last-minute bailout deal with lenders.
Gold fell as investors took profits a day after the precious metal hit a one-month high, and safe-haven buying dried up as a deal between Greece and Cyprus eased fears of an escalating euro zone debt crisis.
Gold rose to a near one-month high, as safe-haven buying emerged after the European Union gave Cyprus an ultimatum to raise billions of euros it needs to clinch a bailout deal or face a likely exit from the currency zone.
Gold slipped slightly in brisk trade on Wednesday after the U.S. Federal Reserve issued its latest policy statement, repeating its accommodative stance while extending it another two years, but gains in the euro provided support for the precious metal.
Gold reversed earlier losses, hitting a 2-1/2 week high above $1,615 an ounce on renewed flight-to-safety investment before an anticipated vote by the Cyprus parliament on a bailout plan.
Gold extended earlier gains to hit its highest since late February, with some investors drawn to the precious metal's safe haven properties as a radical bailout package for Cyprus shook sentiment in the euro zone.
Gold inched higher, recouping some earlier losses in line with a firmer euro and bouts of physical buying in some parts of Asia, although signs the U.S. economy is on a better footing were however curbing further gains.
Gold rose above $1,590 an ounce on Tuesday, gaining nearly one percent following comments by an ECB official that euro zone inflation pressures are abating, which was viewed as an indication of continued monetary easing.
Gold rose slightly, as mixed Chinese economic data and Italy's credit downgrade encouraged some appetite for the metal as a safe haven, but prices were held in check by a firmer dollar.
Gold traded flat, ending the week with a slight gain, after data showed improvement in the U.S. economy but not enough for the Federal Reserve to halt its stimulus, analysts said.