US gold futures

Prices were headed for a fourth straight session of decline and remained below the 200-day moving average, a closely watched technical level

Gold is typically seen as a hedge against inflation and geopolitical risks, but the conflict-driven surge in energy costs is also raising expectations

Spot silver fell 0.4 per cent to $54 per ounce, after hitting a record high of $54.47, tracking the rally in gold and a short squeeze in the spot market

The prolonged US government shutdown, now in its third day as of Friday, has delayed key economic data, including the non-farm payrolls report