gold futures ended lower on tuesday with investors awaiting wednesdays federal reserve decision on monetary policy with the fed probably announcing a taper tomorrow and maybe even laying the groundwork for rate hikes later next year in keeping with hawkish shifts from central banks around the world in recent weeks and months gold may struggle said craig erlam senior market analyst at oanda a stronger dollar could pile further pressure on the yellow metal as it already appears to have entered into a corrective pattern he said december gold gcz21 fell 640 or 04 to settle at 178940 an ounce after posting a gain of 07 on monday