May 18 (Reuters) - The price of gold slipped on Thursday as signs that a deal to raise the U.S. debt ceiling could be reached in Washington reduced its safe haven appeal. Fading expectations for early U.S. rate cuts also took the shine off non-yielding bullion.

Spot gold fell 0.3% to $1,976.09 per ounce by 1106 GMT, earlier going as low as $1,971.99, its lowest since April 21...[LINK]