Gold continued its southward journey for the fourth straight session at the domestic bullion market due to reduced demand from jewellery stockists and retailers.

Elsewhere, silver took a major bearish hit and plunged below the Rs 36,000 mark on the back of frantic sell-off by speculative traders amid weak industrial buying.

Standard gold (99.5 purity) dropped by Rs 165 to end at Rs 26,000 per 10 grams against Friday's level of Rs 26,165.