CHICAGO, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Gold futures on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange remained unchanged on Wednesday.
The most active gold contract for August delivery closed at 1,980.80 U.S. dollars per ounce, unchanged from the previous trading day.
The U.S. Commerce Department reported Wednesday that U.S. new home construction fell 8 percent to a 1.43 million annualized rate in June, following an increase in May.
The U.S. Commerce Department further reported that U.S. residential permits, which can hint at future home construction, fell 3.7 percent in June month on month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.44 million. Economists expected permits to fall 0.7 percent month on month.
The Federal Open Market Committee meeting will convene next week. Investors are expecting one more rate hike at the meeting.
Silver for September delivery rose 13.10 cents, or 0.52 percent, to close at 25.387 dollars per ounce. Platinum for October delivery fell 9.60 dollars, or 0.97 percent, to close at 984.80 dollars per ounce.
