Gold falls as U.S. dollar strengthens

CHICAGO, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Gold futures on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange fell on Thursday as the U.S. dollar strengthened.

The most active gold contract for August delivery fell 9.90 U.S. dollars, or 0.50 percent, to close at 1,970.90 dollars per ounce.

Economic data released Thursday were mixed. The U.S. Labor Department reported that U.S. initial jobless claims dropped 9,000 t