December gold ended down 50 cents at $419.50 a ounce, after moving in a tight $418.80-$421.70 range.
The contract hit $422.20 on Wednesday, the highest price since April 13, when it was retreating from 16-year highs on the first of that month.
Recent weakness in the dollar, another record oil price at $53 a barrel, instability in Iraq and uncertainty ahead of November's U.S. presidential election have been supportive factors for the 6 percent rise in gold prices in recent weeks.
Spot fetched $417.80/8.55, slightly better than Wednesday's close at $417.75/8.50. London's afternoon fix was at $418.10.
