Nov 24 (Reuters) - Gold prices slipped to a three-week low on Wednesday as robust U.S. economic data lifted the dollar and Treasury yields, with jitters around a sooner-than-expected interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve adding to the downbeat mood. Spot gold was down 0.4% at $1,783.18 per ounce by 02:23 p.m. ET (1923 GMT), after falling to its lowest since Nov. 4 at $1,777.80 earlier in the session. U.S. gold futures settled flat at $1,784.30 per ounce. Gold slid below the key $1,800 mark earlier this week as the re-nomination of Fed Chair Jerome Powell bolstered bets of faster monetary policy tightening, boosting the dollar and in turn making bullion more expensive for overseas buyers. read more The gold market is being pressured by concerns the Fed may begin to ramp up its tapering or bring rate hikes at a more rapid pace than previously anticipated, said David Meger, director of metals trading at High Ridge Futures. Various Fed policymakers said they would be open to speeding up the elimination of their bond-buying program if high inflation held and move more quickly to raise interest rates, minutes of the U.S. central bank"s last policy meeting showed. read more Higher interest rates increase the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion. Gold investors also seem to be discounting for the possibility of moderating inflation, given the recent retreat in energy prices, ED&F Man Capital Markets analyst Edward Meir said. Piling pressure were U.S. initial jobless claims falling to their lowest since 1969 and a separate report showing economic growth increased at a 2.1% annualized rate. read more With inflows into gold-backed ETFs also subdued, short acquisitions by "trend followers" remain the primary contributor to flows, suggesting further downside to prices, TD Securities said in a note. Spot platinum rose 0.5% to $974.03 per ounce, while palladium dipped 0.7% to $1,854.32 and silver fell 0.9% to $23.42. Reporting by Asha Sistla and Brijesh Patel in Bengaluru, additional reporting by Ashitha Shivaprasad; Editing by Aditya Soni, Amy Caren Daniel and Ramakrishnan M.