08/18/2008 Once hot gold goes cold, plummets amid stronger U.S. dollar, oil decline (MSN Money Canada) NEW YORK - Gold, which scorched into the record books earlier this year, has suddenly gone cold. Prices for the precious metal - which touched US$1,000 an ounce for the first time in March - have plunged in recent weeks, and on Friday tumbled below $800 for the first time since late last year.