Gold prices experienced a minor decline on Monday as the dollar strengthened, amid thin holiday trading. The precious metal’s value decreased by 0.1% to $2,617.58 per ounce, while the dollar index rose 0.6% against its rivals. Despite this short-term dip, analysts remain optimistic about gold’s future, with UBS projecting a target of $2,800 per ounce by mid-2025. The market continues to digest the Federal Reserve’s recent decision to cut rates by 25 basis points, although expectations of fewer rate cuts in 2025 have tempered gold’s performance in the short term.