Gold slumped on Tuesday on falling oil prices and the slightly weaker dollar.
Despite sliding $9.10 to $838.10 an ounce, the precious metal looks on course to be the only commodity to finish the year relatively unchanged despite the uncertain economic conditions, which have pushed other commodities down over the course of the year.
Dollar edged down against the euro and other currencies on worries of the depth of the US recession.
Oil prices continued to slip lower Tuesday ahead of the Christmas holiday.
Poor US new home sales figures put further pressure on crude prices following the decline on Wall Street and fall in Japanese exports.
Crude for February delivery fell 93 cents to settle at $38.98 a barrel.
