Bloomberg said prices dropped from the precious metal's biggest gain in more than two weeks, with the policy statement vindicating the view of bearish investors, namely Goldman Sachs.

Gold for immediate delivery fell to $US1156.10 an ounce, a 0.9% drop after the central bank's announcement.

Copper behaved in a similar way, the with the metal's delivery in three months settling lower at $US5130 per tonne - a 1.4% drop - on the London Metal Exchange, with aluminium, zinc, nickel and lead also falling.

Futures for December delivery fell 1.8% to $2.321oz on the Commodities Exchange in New York.