Gold fell below $4,000 as inflation fears intensified, driven by rising energy prices and continued bets on tighter US monetary policy.

Gold prices fell on Thursday, dropping below $4,000 an ounce, as investors shifted their focus from weak US inflation data to geopolitical risks in the Middle East and rising oil prices, which reinforced concerns about a return of inflationary pressures and the Federal Reserve (Fed) maintaining its hawkish stance.