Gold Futures Post Modest Loss As Dollar Strengthens

Gold futures saw a modest loss on Wednesday as strength in the U.S. dollar dulled investment demand for the metal. Prices however, remained close to a two-month high, supported by recent comments from President-elect Donald Trump, which suggested that he favors a weaker greenback to benefit U.S. trade. February gold lost 80 cents, or less than 0.1%, to settle at $1,212.10 an ounce after ending Tuesday at its highest since mid-November. The Federal Reserve's Beige Book, released after prices settled Wednesday, showed that "price pressures intensified somewhat" in the last few weeks of 2016. In electronic trading, gold futures traded at $1,208.40.