Gold rises as U.S. dollar falls

CHICAGO, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Gold futures on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange rose on Thursday as the U.S. dollar index fell.

The most active gold contract for February delivery rose 3.60 U.S. dollars, or 0.18 percent, to close at 2,051.30 dollars per ounce.

Economic data released Thursday also supported gold. The U.S. Commerce Department reported that U.S. gross domestic product (GD