Gold prices were little changed on Thursday, hovering around $1,650 an ounce, as investors weighed a recent improvement in the US economy against the continuing shrinkage of Chinese manufacturing activities. Spot gold was little changed at $1,649.49 an ounce by 0622 GMT, down from an intra-day high of $1,656.01 hit in the early hours. US gold was nearly flat at $1,649.50.