Gold spirals lower in European trade

• Silver set to fall about 6.6pc for the month

LONDON: Gold prices extended their slide to five month lows on Monday as prospects of a vaccine-led boost to the economy cast a shadow over safe-haven assets and set bullion on course for its worst month in four years.

Spot gold dipped 1% to $1,770.56 per ounce by 1337 GMT, and was down 5.7% so far this month. The metal also hit its lowest level since July 2 at $1,764.29 earlier in the session.

US gold futures dropped 0.9% to $1,771.20 per ounce.

"The news of vaccines has led to a lot of optimism in the market and we are seeing some outflows in safe-haven assets like the dollar, Treasuries and the same is being reflected in gold prices," said OANDA analyst Craig Erlam.

Gold prices fell despite the dollar hitting its lowest level in two and a half years.

Bullion has declined more than $300 an ounce from a record high of $2,072.50 an ounce hit in August.

"The short-term trend for bullion has been compromised by the price falling through the support level at $1,850," ActivTrades' chief analyst Carlo Alberto De Casa said in a note.

"Investors have moved to other assets, seeking faster gains, although they haven't forgotten that central banks will be forced to print money for many years to help the economy to recover from the Covid-19 crisis."

Optimism around vaccine-induced economic recovery has put world shares on track for their best month on record.

Data showed China's factory activity expanded at the fastest pace in more than three years in November, also aiding risk sentiment. Investors are now looking to congressional testimony by US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell this week.

Silver fell 2.6% to $22.10 an ounce, recovering some ground after dropping as much as 3.6% earlier in the session. The metal was on track for a monthly decline of about 6.6%. Platinum rose 1.2% to $975, while palladium slipped 1.2% to $2,397 per ounce.