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SINGAPORE, Oct 27 (Reuters) Gold slipped on Friday after gaining 1 percent in New York as the metal struggled to crack the $600 an ounce barrier.

-- Spot gold dropped to $594.50/595.25 an ounce from $596.00/597.50 an ounce late in New York on Thursday, when the metal had hit a high of $598.50 an ounce on fund buying.

-- The new benchmark contract on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange , October 2007, started trading on Friday and opened at 2,295 yen per gram. It was quoted at 2,291 yen by 0050 GMT.

-- Dealers were watching the energy market for direction.

U.S. crude oil prices were little changed around $60 a barrel after a sharp drop on Thursday.

-- Platinum rose to $1,076/1,081 an ounce from $1,075/1,080 late in New York.

-- Palladium was unchanged at $320/325 an ounce.

-- Silver edged down to $12.09/12.14 an ounce from $12.12/12.19 late in New York.

Reuters DKS VP0642