Metals

Gold ends about 2% lower, but manages monthly gain

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Gold settled nearly 2 percent lower on Friday, extending a three-day slide to a two-week low, and silver dropped the most since September 2013 on free-falling oil prices and a strong dollar.

U.S. gold futures for December delivery closed down $21.40 an ounce, or 1.8 percent, at $1,175.20, but ended November slightly higher.

Spot gold was last down 1.9 percent at $1,168.56 an ounce, after hitting a low of $1,165.04.

U.S. oil prices settled more than 10 percent lower, extending a huge rout on bearish sentiment.

The U.S. dollar rose versus commodity currencies such as the Canadian dollar and Norwegian crown on OPEC's decision not to reduce output.


Read MoreOil falls as OPEC opts not to cut production

Futures Now: Swiss gold referendum
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Futures Now: Swiss gold referendum

The stronger dollar weighs on gold and other greenback-traded commodities as it makes them more expensive to holders of other currencies.

"Everything is stemming from crude (oil). People are liquidating," said Phillip Streible, senior commodities broker at RJO Futures in Chicago.

Traders awaited the outcome of a referendum in Switzerland on Sunday on a motion to force the Swiss National Bank to raise gold holdings to 20 percent of its foreign exchange reserves, repatriate its bullion and undertake never to sell it.

"The likelihood of this going through is pretty remote," said Ross Norman, chief executive officer of broker Sharps Pixley.

A surprise "yes" vote could prompt the Swiss central bank to buy about 1,500 tons of gold over the next few years, analysts said.

Elsewhere, India has decided to scrap the rule that required trading companies to export 20 percent of the gold they imported, known as the 80:20 scheme, local television channels reported on Friday, citing government sources.

Silver was down 4.3 percent at $15.52 an ounce after tumbling as much as 5 percent, while spot platinum was down 0.8 percent at $1,201.70 an ounce.

Read MoreGold slips further below $1,200 as fund outflows resume

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