Sydney - A stronger dollar and a retreat in oil prices in Asia Monday shaved some of spot gold's rally from overnight Friday, but thin trading likely exacerbated the price move, said traders and analysts. The euro trended lower against the dollar on mounting concerns over a slowdown in the euro-zone as Europe struggles to detach from the US subprime-related turmoil, with European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet Friday suggesting that economic growth could be slower than expected. The lower euro and a perception that negative news for the dollar and US economy are increasingly being priced in helped a firmer tone for the dollar to emerge, analysts said. At 08.41 am IST, the dollar traded at USD1.4323 against the euro from an earlier USD1.4392, while oil eased to USD93.26 a barrel, down five cents on the day. However, year-end volatility in thinly traded markets still marked gold as an attractive choice for investors, said Investec. A recovery in stock markets - the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained more than 1.5% Friday - made liquidation of gold positions to meet margin calls elsewhere less likely, Investec added. Reports of gold miner AngloGold Ashanti possibly closing out its entire gold hedge book contributed to Friday's overnight rally, said Kitco Analyst Jon Nadler. The practice of producers selling gold production on a forward basis has fallen out of favor in a rising market, and many gold miners have opted to buy back hedges to benefit from gold's bull run. This week, gold is likely to oscillate around USD800 a troy ounce, but is susceptible to volatile moves given thinned liquidity. Most market participants still expect gold to shine next year, particularly during the first quarter, before easing below the USD700/oz level. Further subprime-related troubles, decreasing but still-high interbank lending rates that indicate persistent problems in the credit market and uncertainty over the dollar's direction still mark gold as a safe-haven investment, analysts said, that could boost gold past its January 1980 record high of USD850/oz. Spot platinum also continued on a strong note, given borrowing interest and a firm fundamental outlook for the metal. At 08.35 am IST, gold was USD3.10 lower at USD808.60/oz and silver was one cent lower at USD14.33/oz.