Gold prices were flat on Monday, as the metal was caught between subdued U.S. bond yields and the prospect of the Federal Reserve tightening policy at a faster pace which dimmed its appeal. Spot gold was little changed at $1,782.95 per ounce by 0419 GMT. U.S. gold futures were flat at $1,783.60. U.S. 10-year Treasury yields hovered near a more than two-month low hit on Friday. Thirty-year Treasury yields were also close to their lowest since the start of this year. Weaker yields decrease gold"s opportunity cost. Bullion rose 1% on Friday after data showed U.S. employment growth slowed considerably in November. But the data did little to alter expectations of the Fed tapering its stimulus measures at a faster pace, as policymakers likely respond to signs of a tightening labour market with the unemployment rate plunging to a 21-month low. read more The Fed"s two-day policy meet is set to begin on Dec. 14. "A faster taper announcement looks like a certainty if data on the Omicron variant this week and next confirms it is milder in severity, so gold could come under sustained pressure and potentially trade as low as $1,720 next week," said Jeffrey Halley, senior market analyst at Oanda. Reduced stimulus and interest rate hikes tend to push government bond yields up, raising the opportunity cost of non-interest bearing gold. Market participants now eye U.S. consumer price data on Friday. "An annual print above 7.0% could see U.S. yields steepen once again, and gold will move lower," Halley said, adding that any potentially rally in gold back above $1,800 will be fragile and lack momentum. Spot silver fell 0.1% to $22.48 an ounce. Platinum rose 0.4% to $935.74, while palladium declined 0.1% to $1,807.83.