CHICAGO, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Gold futures on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange fell on Wednesday as the U.S. dollar strengthened.

       The most active gold contract for June delivery fell 15.4 U.S. dollars, or 0.81 percent, to close at 1,888.7 dollars per ounce.

       The market expects that the Federal Reserve will move aggressively to raise interest rates in May and June and highly likely in July, in response to inflation running at its hottest in four decades. The expectation lifted dollar and dampened gold.

       Rising U.S. stock indexes also dampened gold.

       Market analysts noted that it would not take much fear for gold to trade higher against the backdrop of escalating Russia-Ukraine conflict.

       Silver for July delivery fell 8.5 cents, or 0.36 percent, to close at 23.505 dollars per ounce. Platinum for July delivery fell 1.7 dollars, or 0.19 percent, to close at 910.4 dollars per ounce.