NEW YORK, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- Gold prices dropped back Wednesday as the dollar index jumped 1.6 percent and equities tumbled with a renewed focus on the eurozone's debt crisis.
Yields on benchmark 10-year bonds in Italy hit a euro-era high above 7 percent, increasing fears of default in the region's third largest economy.
On the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange, gold prices pressured by the stronger dollar lost $29 to close at $1,770.20 per troy ounce.
Silver dropped $1.09 to hit $34.06 per ounce.
West Texas Intermediate crude oil lost 76 cents to settle at $96.04 per barrel.
The euro fell to $1.3556 from Tuesday's $1.3834. Against the yen, the dollar rose to 77.80 from Tuesday's 77.72 percent.
The British pound fell to $1.59323 from Tuesday's $1.6092. Against the Hong Kong dollar, the U.S. standard rose to 7.7738 HKD from 7.769 HKD.
The dollar rose to 1.0235 Canadian from 1.0092 Canadian. The Australian dollar fell to $1.0148 from Tuesday's $1.0393.
