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SINGAPORE, Sep 8 (Reuters) Gold steadied on Friday after falling more than 2 percent in New York due to the higher dollar, softer oil prices and fear over possible U.S. interest rate hikes.

-- Spot gold inched up to $618.10/618.85 an ounce from $617.50/618.50 late in New York on Thursday, when it had dropped to a 1-week low of $614.80 an ounce.

-- Key gold futures on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange fell by the daily 60 yen limit to 2,354 yen per gram as heavy profit-taking emerged after the dollar-based spot price fell in New York the previous day.

-- The euro was flat at $1,2728 .

-- Silver edged up to $12.59/12.64 an ounce from $12.56/12.63 an ounce in New York and off a 1-week low of $12.42 an ounce hit on Thursday.

-- Platinum fell to $1,243/1,248 an ounce from $1,250/1,255 an ounce.

-- Palladium rose to $342/347 an ounce from $341/346 late in New York.

Precious Metals Prices by 0028 GMT* Metal Last Net change Pct Move Gold 618.10 1.90 +0.31 Platinum 1243.00 -2.00 -0.16 Palladium 342.00 1.00 +0.29 Silver 12.58 0.04 +0.32 Change so far in 2006 Metal Latest bid End prev year Pct Move Gold 618.10 517.20 +19.51 Platinum 1243.00 968.00 +28.41 Palladium 342.00 254.00 +34.65 Silver 12.58 8.81 +42.79 REUTERS AD PM0754