Gold cracks below $4,500; MCX futures slip under ₹1.58 lakh

Gold prices remained under pressure on Friday, with international bullion slipping below $4,500 an ounce and MCX gold futures falling nearly 1% to ₹1,58,111 per 10 grams. The precious metal is heading for a weekly loss as persistent Middle East tensions kept oil prices elevated, fueling inflation concerns and raising the risk of higher interest rates. Investor focus has now shifted to the US nonfarm payrolls report, which could offer fresh clues on the Federal Reserve's policy path. Meanwhile, the US dollar index held near 99.2 and stayed on track for a weekly gain, adding pressure on gold prices. However, a softer dollar compared with recent highs helped limit deeper losses in bullion.  

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