 A fall in the US dollar helped spur gold prices to an eight-month high on Monday after economic data late last week raised hopes that the Federal Reserve would opt for a slowdown in the pace of interest rate hikes. Spot gold edged 0.3 higher to 1,870.43 per ounce following a 2 jump on Friday after the data showed a slowing in US wage growth and a contraction in services industries in December. 