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TOKYO, July 12 (Reuters) Gold edged up near a one-month high on Thursday as the dollar's falls and sharp volatility in US stock and bond markets this week induced safe-haven buying.

Funds flocked into precious metals as they were cheaper relative to other commodities such as crude oil and industrial metals, which have risen more sharply in the last several weeks.

Fund buying also emerged as technical sentiment brightened, especially after the cash gold price briefly cracked the closely watched level of $665 an ounce the previous day.

By 0345 GMT, spot gold was trading at $661.80/662.60, up from $660.30/660.90 late in New York on Wednesday, when it rallied to its highest in a month at $665.90 on a weak dollar.

''Funds are shifting more into gold for safe-haven reasons as currencies, stocks and bonds are all volatile now,'' said Tatsuo Kageyama, analyst at Kanetsu Asset Management.

''Gold is gathering a lot of interest on price dips as technical sentiment improved after breaking through $665 yesterday,'' Kageyama said.

The level of around $665 is seen as an important chart point, marking the 50 percent retracement point between a one-year high of around $693 in April and a low of $638.90 hit late last month, Tokyo traders said.

A Reuters poll suggested on Wednesday that average gold prices would jump nearly 10 percent this year and gain further in 2008 on a weaker outlook for the dollar, less aggressive sales by central banks and physical demand.

The global poll of 33 analysts and traders conducted over the past month arrived at a median price for gold of $670, up from an average of $612.10 in 2006 and about 3 percent higher than the figure from a poll in January. [ID:nL09879943] Most active June 2008 gold futures on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange closed the morning at 2,630 yen a gram, up 7 yen or 0.3 percent from Wednesday.

The dollar was little changed on Thursday, after recovering from a brief sell-off that did little to keep it away from a record low against the euro and a 26-year trough versus sterling.

The dollar slipped 0.15 percent to 122.15 yen . On Wednesday it dropped to 120.99 yen, its lowest level in a month.

The euro was little changed at $1.3750 , hovering within reach of a record-high $1.3787 hit in the previous session.

Platinum edged higher to $1,301/1,306 an ounce from at $1,298/1,305 in New York the previous day.

The white precious metal was supported by news of a labour dispute in South Africa.

South African trade unions declared a dispute against the world's biggest platinum producer, Angloplat , on Wednesday after it refused to increase its wage offer.

South Africa's Anglo Platinum Ltd, majority owned by mining giant Anglo American Plc , accounts for around 40 percent of global platinum production. The wage talks cover around 39,000 workers.

Palladium rose to $366/371 an ounce from $365.55/369.55 in New York.

Silver edged up to $12.91/12.94 an ounce from $12.87/12.90.

Precious metals prices at 0349 GMT Last Net Change Pct Move Turnover (lots) TOCOM Gold 2642.00 10.00 +0.38 51083 TOCOM Platinum 5079.00 -9.00 -0.18 30362 TOCOM Silver 508.10 -0.50 -0.10 1582 TOCOM Palladium 1486.00 11.00 +0.75 502 Spot Gold 660.80 Spot Platinum 1294.00 Spot Silver 12.73 Spot Palladium 365.00 Change so far in 2007 Metal Latest bid End prev year Pct Move TOCOM Gold 2642.00 2445.00 +8.06 TOCOM Platinum 5079.00 4254.00 +19.39 TOCOM Silver 508.10 493.30 +3.00 TOCOM Palladium 1486.00 1255.00 +18.41 Spot Gold 660.80 636.10 +3.88 Spot Platinum 1294.00 1132.00 +14.31 Spot Silver 12.73 12.85 -0.93 Spot Palladium 365.00 332.00 +9.94 Euro/Dollar $1.3649 Dollar/Yen 123.20 REUTERS KR HS1108