THE gold price fell on Tuesday after Austria’s central bank announced that it has sold 30 tons of gold and is planning further sales. Prices are around their lowest levels since December 1999 when the Dutch central bank announced plans to sell part of its gold reserves and following Bank of England gold auctions. On the London bullion market, gold was selling for $276,93 an ounce on Tuesday, slightly higher than the morning fix of $276,75, but lower than Monday’s afternoon fix of $277,50. Last week, the precious metal was hard-hit by a report in French newspaper Le Monde that the Bank of France — which has always said it would not sell its reserves — was about to reverse its policy.