Gold prices fell sharply in Europe on Thursday, as a steadier dollar triggered selling and pushed bullion below $440 an ounce, although traders said it attracted physical buying at the lows. Platinum, which scored 11-month highs overnight in Asia, cooled off in Europe as fund buying died down for now, although it could resume, analysts said. Spot gold shed nearly 1.5 percent at its session low of $436.95 a troy ounce, but subsequently bounced back to $439.05/439.80 by 1554 GMT, still down from New York's late close of $443.30/440.00 an ounce.
"There was a buildup of selling pressure that triggered some stops so we saw a wave of selling come in very quickly," one trader said.
"But that was matched by a surge in physical activity and that acted like a parachute."
Gold had rallied throughout most of February and hit its highest for the year last week at $446.70, but it lost momentum this week after several failed attempts to regain $445.
But the precious metal was being equally well defended below $440 an ounce.
"The fund investment community will probably consider this (fall) as a good opportunity to buy back before another attempt at the $445 level," another trader said.
Oil prices at fresh highs were seen supportive for gold, while powerful investment funds also seemed content to continue pouring money into commodity markets.
Traders said gold would need to get back above $450 an ounce in order to launch an attack on last December's 16-1/2 year peak at $456.75.
The dollar recovered against the euro as investors considered the steep fall in the previous session, triggered by a record US current account deficit, as overdone.
Platinum moved off its earlier 11-month high of $885, although recent fund buying may not be over yet, analysts said.
"The potential for short-covering, supported by the positive momentum being seen across the commodities at present, suggests platinum could well be challenging back towards and even above $900 before the end of the month," Barclays Capital said in a daily report.
Platinum, used to clean car exhaust fumes and in jewellery, had been stuck in a wide $815-885 range since August 2004. Spot was indicated at $876.00/880.00 an ounce, down from New York's $885.00/889.00.
Palladium was steady at $200.00/205.00 from $202.00/207.00, while silver fell to $7.35/7.38 from $7.40/7.43.
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