International gold prices fell to a seven-month low, briefly dropping to $3,964 an ounce and more than 20% below the January peak, a threshold often associated with a bear market. Silver also slipped below $60 an ounce. The declines were driven by a stronger U.S. dollar and firmer expectations for higher U.S. interest rates after hawkish signals from Federal Reserve officials such as Chair Kevin Warsh. Gold-linked stocks including Hindustan Zinc, Manappuram Finance and IIFL Finance traded lower.