Commodities Update — Gold flat; Corn eases from one-week high; Copper dips on economic slowdown

Chicago corn futures eased from a one-week high on Wednesday. (Shutterstock)
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RIYADH: Gold prices were little changed on Wednesday, as investors stayed away from taking big positions ahead of a US Federal Reserve interest rate decision that could influence the outlook for bullion.

Spot gold was nearly flat at $1,716.59 per ounce at 0308 GMT. 

US gold futures dipped 0.2 percent to $1,713.90.

Silver slightly dips

Spot silver dipped 0.1 percent to $18.61 per ounce, while platinum fell 0.3 percent to $870.77. 

Palladium firmed 0.5 percent to $2,019.91.

Corn, wheat ease

Chicago corn futures eased from a one-week high on Wednesday, while concerns over hot and dry weather in parts of the US Midwest provided a floor under the market.

Wheat lost ground, while soybeans fell for the first time in four sessions.

The most-active corn contract on the Chicago Board of Trade fell 0.6 percent to $5.97-1/4 a bushel, as of 0343 GMT, after climbing earlier in the session to its highest since July 19 at $6.03 a bushel.

Wheat gave up 0.8 percent to $7.97-1/2 a bushel and soybeans dipped 0.3 percent to $13.80 a bushel.

Copper falls

Copper prices slipped on Wednesday, weighed down by lingering concerns over demand due to slowing global economic growth and a stronger dollar ahead of a likely sharp US interest rate hike.

Three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange was down 0.3 percent at $7,515.50 a ton, as of 0223 GMT, after hitting a two-week high in the previous session.

The most-traded September copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange eased 0.2 percent to $8,557.54 a ton.

(With input from Reuters)