COMMODITIES-Gold at record high as dollar falls, oil tops $80

* Spot gold hits record high $1,097.25

* Lower dollar supports a range of commodities

* Fed keeps interest rates near zero

CHICAGO, Nov 4 - A range of commodities rose on Wednesday, with gold rising to a record high and oil ending above $80 a barrel as the dollar slipped, the stock market firmed and the Federal Reserve said it would keep U.S. interest rates near zero percent.

The Fed's policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee unanimously voted to keep its benchmark fed funds rate in a range of zero to 0.25 percent, expressing growing confidence that an economic recovery in the United States was building.

The Reuters-Jefferies CRB index, a global benchmark comprising 19 commodities, rose 0.2 percent.

The dollar fell against the euro after the Fed kept interest rates steady, as expected, with investors showing an appetite for risks in equities and commodities.

Spot gold hit a record high of $1,097.25 an ounce as the dollar fell. Market sentiment had gotten a boost on Tuesday after India, the world's top consumer of bullion, purchased 200 tonnes of gold from the International Monetary Fund.

U.S. December gold futures settled $2.40 higher at $1,087.30 after rising to a record $1,096.50 an ounce. Spot gold was at $1,092, up from $1,084.50 late on Tuesday.

Gold is now poised to target the psychologically important $1,100 an ounce level, dealers said.

"India has (prompted) new speculation of pent-up demand for gold diversification by central banks," said Michael Lewis, head of commodities research at Deutsche Bank.

The IMF said it had sold 200 tonnes of gold to the Reserve Bank of India, half of a long-planned bullion sale that had threatened to slow gold's ascent.

SURPRISE DECLINE IN OIL STOCKS

Oil surged after a government report showed a surprise decline in crude stocks in the United States, the world's largest energy consumer.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration said in its report on Wednesday that crude stocks fell by 4 million barrels in the latest week. Analysts had expected inventories to rise by 1.4 million barrels.

"On the surface, it was a bullish surprise with a big draw in crude," said Mike Zarembski, senior commodities analyst for OptionsXpress.

U.S. crude for December delivery settled 80 cents lower at $80.40 per barrel after rising above $81.

Grain futures at the Chicago Board of Trade fell as the advancing harvest this week pushed more supplies into the market, weakening futures and prices in cash markets.

Research company Informa Economics on Wednesday estimated the U.S. corn crop being harvested at a record 13.064 billion bushels, and the soy crop at a record 3.333 billion bushels.

Traders are anxiously awaiting the government's monthly update of crop supply and demand on Nov. 10.

Soybeans for November delivery settled 11-1/4 cents, or 1 percent, lower at $9.95-1/2 per bushel. December corn fell 6 cents, or 1.5 pct, to $3.84.