Gold prices remained stable on Wednesday as the market awaited progress in talks on raising the US debt ceiling. Copper prices, on the other hand, hit a six-month low due to a slowdown in global manufacturing activity and demand. Despite losing the key $2,000 level, gold was still able to attract safe-haven buy orders as traders predicted a slowdown in global economic activity this year. Weaker-than-expected purchasing managers' index readings released on Tuesday reinforced this view, causing industrial metals to underperform in comparison to gold.