PRECIOUS-Gold flat to firmer after Fed's low-rate vow

TOKYO, June 24 (Reuters) - Gold was flat to slightly firmer
on Thursday as the Federal Reserve's vow to keep interest rates
low and uncertainty over the global economy underpinned investor
appetite.

 On Wednesday, weak U.S. housing data helped send gold to a
low below $1,230 an ounce, but its recovery since then on
bargain-hunting eased bearish views that gold cannot be an
exception when a sell-off hits other commodities and stocks.

 Spot gold XAU= was at $1,235.20 an ounce at 0237 GMT,
unchanged from the notional New York close, and hovering well
below Monday's record around $1,264.

 "Gold looks resilient to downside risk because vague fears
are still hanging over markets. Visibility is low in terms of the
euro and the economy," said Tetsu Emori, general manager at
Tokyo-based fund manager Astmax Co.

 Technically, gold is expected to revisit Wednesday's session
low of $1,224.30, its lowest in more than a week, as a pullback
towards the trend line could have completed. [ID:nSGE65N00V]

 The low was hit after a report showed sales of new U.S. homes
dropped a record 32.7 percent in May to the weakest level in at
least four decades.