CHICAGO, March 22 -- Gold futures on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange fell on Friday as the U.S. dollar strengthened.

The most active gold contract for April delivery went down 24.70 U.S. dollars, or 1.13 percent, to close at 2,160.00 dollars per ounce.

After this week's gain with gold hitting a record high, short-term traders took profit, further dampening gold.

Technically, gold futures still have the solid overall near-term technical advantage, but appear to have run out of gas for the near term. Market analysts hold that gold's next upside price objective is above solid resistance at the record high of 2,225.30 dollars, and the next near-term downside price objective is below solid technical support at 2,149.20 dollars.

U.S. gross domestic product report will be released on Thursday, along with inflation data on Friday.

Silver for May delivery fell 16.40 cents, or 0.66 percent, to close at 24.843 dollars per ounce. Platinum for April delivery fell 14.60 dollars, or 1.60 percent, to close at 898.40 dollars per ounce.

  - Xinhua