Australia Consumer Inflation Expectations increased to 4.9% in August from previous 4.7%

Gold eases from its highest level since early June, though it trades above $4,500 during the Asian session on Thursday. The US Dollar draws some support from the US-Iran standoff and hawkish FOMC Minutes, capping the upside for the bullion. Meanwhile, the US Treasury Department stepped in to provide relief to bond markets, leading to a further decline in yields and limiting the downside for the non-yielding yellow metal.