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SINGAPORE, May 4 (Reuters) Gold took a breather on Thursday after a rally which lifted the price to a 25-year high of $676.30 an ounce the previous day on worries about Iran's nuclear plans, a weak dollar and firm oil prices.

-- Dealers expect the market to consolidate this week with key player Japan on holiday. Support was pegged at $662 an ounce and resistance at $667.

-- Spot gold was quoted at $666.30/667.30 an ounce, versus $666.80/667.80 late in New York on Wednesday.

-- Japanese markets are closed from Wednesday through Friday for the Golden Week holiday period.

-- Platinum fell to $1,173/1,180 from $1,175/1,180 an ounce late in New York and off a record $1,184 hit the previous day.

-- Palladium dropped to $373/380 an ounce from $375/380. The metal had risen to its highest since April 2002 at $387 an ounce on Wednesday on fund buying.

-- Silver inched up to $13.73/13.82 from $13.69/13.79 in New York, but off a 23-year peak of $14.68 hit two weeks ago.

Precious Metals Prices by 0033 GMT Last Net Change Pct Move Gold 666.30 -0.70 -0.10 Platinum 1173.00 -2.00 -0.17 Palladium 373.00 -2.00 -0.53 Silver 13.72 0.02 +0.15 Change so far in 2006 Metal Latest bid End prev year Pct Move Gold 666.30 517.20 +28.83 Platinum 1173.00 968.00 +21.18 Palladium 373.00 254.00 +46.85 Silver 13.72 8.81 +55.73 * The closing prices used to calculate the net change may differ from New York's last quoted prices.

REUTERS CS GC0951