Gold slipped to a seven-week low on Wednesday as expectations of an early interest rate hike by the U.S. Federal Reserve pushed the dollar to a near two-month high.

Spot gold  was little changed at $1,226.41 per ounce by 0033 GMT. The metal fell to $1,223 earlier in the session, the lowest since April 7.

U.S. gold futures  dipped 0.2 % to $1,226.80. New U.S. single-family home sales recorded their biggest gain in 24 years in April, touching a more than eight-year high as purchases increased broadly, a sign of growing confidence in the economy's prospects.            Content this no 9827808090