Gold comes off 6-1/2 month peak hit on banks' stimulus

The metal climbed sharply last week after the Federal Reserve unveiled a third round of quantitative easing - money printing to buy bonds - following a European Central Bank pledge to launch a new bond-buying programme earlier in the month.

Further monetary easing is expected to maintain pressure on long-term interest rates, keeping the opportunity cost of holding gold at rock bottom, as well as boosting liquidity, pressuring the dollar and fuelling long-term inflation concerns.

Spot gold was down 0.3 percent at $1,766.01 an ounce at 1402 GMT, while U.S. gold futures for December delivery were down $1.50 an ounce at $1,769.70. Earlier, spot prices rose as high as $1,779.10, their strongest since February 29.

"Current monetary easing by central banks is warranted by weak economic growth and subdued inflationary pressures in developed economies," BNP Paribas analyst Anne-Laure Tremblay said. "This trend is likely to continue until we see a notable improvement in economic growth trends."

"It seems that the stars are now aligned for gold to move higher," she said. "The next hurdle to overcome will be the $1,800 an ounce level, which we expect to be breached decisively in the fourth quarter."

Gold prices erased gains as the euro fell against the dollar, with investors taking profits on its earlier gains versus the yen. The dollar held onto gains after data showed U.S. housing starts rose by less than expected last month.

Brent crude oil futures hit a six-week low as the market digested comments from the world's largest oil exporter Saudi Arabia that it would take action to keep prices in check, raising expectations of increased supply.

Interest in gold exchange-traded funds - popular investment vehicles for bullion which issue securities backed by physical metal - has been strong this week, with gold ETF holdings rising to an all-time high at 73.681 million ounces.

GRAPHIC - 2012 asset returns: http://link.reuters.com/muc46s

GRAPHIC - 2012 commod returns: http://link.reuters.com/faz36s

GRAPHIC - Gold/platinum ratio: http://link.reuters.com/xez92s

'FISCAL CLIFF' EYED

Gold's ability to extend its rise back towards last year's record highs at $1,920.30 an ounce will depend largely on how the U.S. economy develops, analysts said.

"What will probably be just as important as QE3 is what happens with this fiscal cliff," Natixis analyst Nic Brown said, referring to the arrival of automatic year-end spending cuts and tax rises in the United States.

"In 2011, the peak in gold prices was related to the inability of Congress to raise the debt ceiling. It wasn't just QE that was pushing it, but the perceived deterioration in the U.S. fiscal position."

"If the market gets it into its head that the U.S. has a problem just like Europe, gold prices could push significantly higher. That will ultimately be the determining factor."

Silver was down 0.8 percent at $34.52 an ounce, while spot palladium was up 1 percent at $669.22 an ounce.

Spot platinum was up 0.5 percent at $1,625.24 an ounce. Output concerns resurfaced in major producer South Africa after police fired tear gas at a crowd of protesters in a township near a mine owned by Anglo American Platinum