Gold prices are falling after the Federal Reserve held off on new measures to stimulate economic growth, according to AP. Gold ended down $1.50 Wednesday at $1,642.30 an ounce. The Fed is predicting that economic growth will improve gradually. It's maintaining a plan to keep a key short-term interest rate near zero through late 2014. But it has offered no indication of additional bond purchases after its current program ends in June. Gold has been supported for months by the Fed's bond-buying programs, which are designed to push down long-term interest rates as a way to stimulate borrowing and spending. In other trading, prices for oil, natural gas, copper and soybeans are higher. Silver, platinum, palladium, wheat and corn are lower.
