Bullion has seen an eye watering run-up since the turn of the year, helping it climb more than 60 percent and hitting multiple records, with observers suggesting it could soon hit $5,000 an ounce.

The rally has been built on a range of issues including a weaker dollar, expectations of interest rate cuts, falling bond yields and central bank buying.

Lingering worries about the global outlook have also boosted its haven status, while a fear of missing out on the surge has equally played a part.

But the buying reversed Tuesday, tanking as much as six percent at one point, and continued its retreat in Asia, hit by profit-taking, hopes for a further easing of China-US tensions and a stronger dollar.

At one point Wednesday it hit a low of $4,000 -- a day after chalking up a record peak of $4.381.51. Silver, which has been riding the coattails of the rally, also plunged.

The retreat hit gold miners and producers. Northern Star Resources in Sydney dived more than eight percent, with Perseus Mining losing more than six percent.

And Hong Kong-listed Zijin Gold International shed more than four percent and Shandong Gold Mining was off nearly two percent, while Merdeka Copper Gold dived around four percent in Jakarta.

"Gold's glorious charge finally met gravity. After months of one-way conviction and relentless inflows," said Stephen Innes at SPI Asset Management. "Volatility in gold has now surpassed equities, echoing the pandemic's manic heartbeat."

However, he added that the commodity would likely still retain support among investors.

"But beneath the surface, the structural demand for insurance remains.

"Central banks will keep stacking reserves, investors still question the durability of fiat promises, and the monetary plumbing remains swollen with debt and distortion."

The selling matched losses in equities, with most Asian markets falling following two days of strong gains.

While investors were taking a breather from the latest run-up -- fanned by hopes for a thawing of relations between Beijing and Washington as well as rate-cut bets -- comments from Trump raised eyebrows.

The president said Tuesday he expected to seal a "good" trade deal with Xi at the APEC summit in South Korea next week, and that "I think we're going to have a very successful meeting. Certainly, there are a lot of people that are waiting for it".

But he then added: "Maybe it won't happen. Things can happen where, for instance, maybe somebody will say, 'I don't want to meet. It's too nasty'. But it's really not nasty."

Hong Kong and Shanghai stocks dropped along with Sydney, Wellington, Taipei and Manila. Tokyo was also down profit-taking after a strong rally sparked by an end to political turmoil in Japan.

The weak start followed a tepid day on Wall Street.

- Key figures at around 0230 GMT -

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.5 percent at 49,077.56 (break)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: DOWN 0.6 percent at 25,863.79

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 0.1 percent at 3,911.40

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1608 from $1.1606 on Tuesday

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3376 from $1.3374

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 151.70 from 151.91 yen

Euro/pound: UP at 86.79 percent from 86.78 pence

West Texas Intermediate: UP 0.5 percent at $57.50 per barrel

Brent North Sea Crude: UP 0.4 percent at $61.55 per barrel

New York - Dow: UP 0.5 percent at 46,924.74 (close)

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.3 percent at 9,426.99 (close)

dan/tc

Zijin Gold International

INDEX CORP.

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