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TOKYO, Aug 2 (Reuters) Gold was little changed on Thursday after falling slightly the previous day due to the prevailing aversion to risk in global financial markets.

-- Spot gold was trading at $664.50/665.30 an ounce as of 0016 GMT, compared with $664.10/664.90 late in New York on Wednesday.

-- The stock markets continued to provide trading cues after the sell-off in global stocks pulled bullion down last week.

-- Tokyo's benchmark Nikkei stock average <.n225> rose 0.2 percent on Thursday with high-tech exporters such as Canon Inc.

and other shares regaining ground after a rebound in U.S. stocks.

-- Volatile crude oil prices provided little help to gold.

U.S. crude fell as much as $2 a barrel on Wednesday as dealers locked in profits from a run to a record high earlier.

-- The dollar stood at around 118.75 yen , little changed from late New York levels. It hit a three-month low of 117.60 yen on Wednesday.

-- South African trade unions declared a dispute against the country's major gold companies after the workers rejected a higher wage offer, a spokesman for one of the labour groups said on Wednesday. [ID:nL01691365] -- The key June 2008 gold futures on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange was at 2,567 yen a gram, up 39 yen or 1.5 percent from the previous close. The contract hit a low of 2,527 yen on Wednesday, the lowest for any benchmark since late March.

-- The benchmark June TOCOM platinum futures climbed 42 yen a gram or 0.9 percent to 4,870 yen. On Wednesday the contract sank by the daily 100-yen limit to the lowest for any benchmark since April 20 amid worries about weaker global demand.

-- Cash platinum traded at $1,278/1,283 an ounce, slightly down from $1,283/1,287 in New York.

-- Cash silver was at $12.93/12.97 an ounce, versus $12.89/12.94 late in New York.

-- Palladium was little changed at $362/366 an ounce from $362/365 in New York.

REUTERS SAM BST0724