Gold is within striking distance of a new record high as the market bets the first US interest-rate cut since early 2020 is near. Gold steadied at elevated levels after surging almost 2% on Friday on weaker-than-expected US economic data, which bolstered the case for the Fed to pivot to monetary easing. The metal briefly rose above $2,100 an ounce Monday, the highest price since the record of $2,135 recorded in Dec.