July 19 (Reuters) - Gold prices pulled back on Wednesday from a 1-1/2-month high scaled in the previous session even as investors bet that recent U.S. economic readings make the case for a pause in the Federal Reserve's interest rate-hike stance.
* Spot gold was down 0.1% at $1,978.09 per ounce by 0043 GMT, after hitting its highest since May 24 at $1,984.19 on Tuesday.
* U.S. gold futures were flat at $1,981.60.
* The dollar index wobbled near more than a one-year low.
* U.S. retail sales rose less than expected in June, increasing 0.2% last month, against the 0.5% forecasted by economists polled by Reuters. Consumer spending, however, appeared to be solid.
* Economists polled by Reuters see the Fed raising its interest rate by 25 basis points to the 5.25%-5.50% range on July 26, with a majority saying it would be the last increase of the current tightening cycle.
* Lower interest rates decrease the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion.
* Big U.S. banks said on Tuesday higher interest rates helped boost profit in the second quarter, causing shares to spike, but a pullback in consumer spending, slower loan growth and increased deposit costs may cloud the outlook for the sector.
* Meanwhile, confidence at big Japanese manufacturers fell in July for the first time in six months, the Reuters Tankan survey showed on Wednesday, in a sign of growing exporter concern about weakening overseas demand.
* Spot silver fell 0.1% to $25.06 per ounce, platinum was up 0.2% at $984.42, while palladium fell 0.2% to $1,317.16. DATA/EVENTS (GMT, June) 0600 UK Core CPI YY 0600 UK CPI YY 0900 EU HICP Final MM, YY 1230 US Housing Starts Number (Reporting by Seher Dareen in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips)
