New York closed at $1,711.30. But this morning, Asian dealers or speculators prepared to stay up, launched another ‘bear raid’ and drove the gold price down to $1,698 at the quietest time of day. London followed through to push it through $1,700 down to Fix at $1,694.75 down $17.75 on yesterday. In the euro it was Fixed at €1,299.157 down over €16.5 while the euro was slightly stronger at €1: $1.3045. Ahead of New York’s opening, gold was $1,693.00 and in the euro at €1,296.47.