Gold steadied on Wednesday, after having neared two-month lows the day before in its largest monthly slide since September, prompted by the dollar's rise against the euro to 11-month highs as the European debt crisis roars on. Gold has lost about 6 percent in value so far this month, making it its weakest December performance since 2008, when the global credit crunch was at its worst. The metal's safe-haven status has been called into question given its inability to profit from the degree of risk aversion and uncertainty among investors. The lure of the dollar as a comparatively secure alternative to the euro, which ... (full story)