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Gold Slump Again, On Worst Losing Streak in 2016

Gold prices slumped on Friday and it is on its way to a 5th straight weekly decline. As it get hit from all directions. The gold prices are being pulled down by a stronger U.S. dollar and expectations of a Federal Reserve rate hike next week. U.S. equities are also at record levels luring money out of the safe haven and fund holdings wither. The S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average are at all-time highs amid speculation President-elect Donald Trump’s policies will spur growth. Investors are also assessing the European Central Bank’s decision on Thursday to tweak its bond buying.

Spot gold was down 0.3% at $1,167.11 an ounce by 0245 GMT, and was set for a weekly decline of about 0.8%. U.S. gold futures lost 0.2% to $1,169.60 per ounce. The dollar held large gains against the yen and euro early on Friday.

The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits fell from a five-month high last week, pointing to labour strength that underscores the economy's sustained momentum and reinforcing the case for a Federal Reserve rate increase.

Rising bond yields and a flight to stock markets have also dampened the appeal of gold.

Meanwhile, Asian shares edged down on Friday but were on track for robust weekly gains, while the euro became more settled after the volatility seen in the wake of the European Central Bank's decision to trim the size of its asset purchase program while also extending it for longer than many analysts had expected.

Holdings of the SPDR Gold Trust, the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, fell 0.34% to 860.71 tonnes on Thursday. SPDR holdings have fallen nearly 9% since November and are on track for a 5th straight week of losses.

Elsewhere, silver was down 0.4% at $16.94 an ounce and platinum fell 0.9% at $930.10.

Palladium was down by 0.2% to $734, after reaching its lowest since November 18 in the previous session.