Gold rises on weaker economic data

CHICAGO, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Gold futures on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange fell on Tuesday on weaker than expected economic data.

The most active gold contract for August delivery fell 24.40 U.S. dollars, or 1.25 percent, to close at 1,980.80 dollars per ounce.

The U.S. Commerce Department reported Tuesday that U.S. retail sales rose 0.2 percent to 689.5 billion dollars in June, w