Gold and platinum strike 8-month low on dollar

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Gold extended losses on Tuesday and tumbled to its weakest in almost eight months on the rising U.S. dollar and general weakness in commodities markets, which reduced its safe-haven appeal.

Platinum and silver also tumbled to their lowest level in since December, while thinly-traded palladium hit its weakest since mid-November 2006.

Gold hit intraday low of $801.90 an ounce, its lowest level since late December, down from $819.25/820.85 an ounce late in New York on Monday.

"Frankly speaking, the way its dropping, I think $800 will be taken out very soon," said Adrian Koh, analyst at Philip Futures in Singapore.

"Just look at the rise in the dollar and plunge in the euro. Gold's decline is quite justifiable," he said.

The euro fell to a six-month low against the dollar on Tuesday, as concerns over the global economy hit the European single currency and higher-yielding currencies. The dollar index .DXY, which measures it against a basket of six currencies, hit a six-month high of 76.428.

Platinum fell to $1,468/1,488 an ounce from $1,517/1,537 an ounce.

Silver dropped to $14.19/14.24 an ounce from $14.65/14.71 an ounce, while palladium fell to $311.00/319.00 an ounce from $317.00/325.00 late in New York.

(Reporting by Lewa Pardomuan; Editing by Louise Heavens)