SINGAPORE, March 24 (Reuters) - Gold extended gains on Wednesday and defied a tumbling euro as uncertainties over a rescue package for debt-laden Greece boosted its safe-haven appeal, while rising stock markets offered additional support. FUNDAMENTALS * Spot gold was at $1,103.20 an ounce by 0029 GMT, up $1.55 from New York's notional close on Tuesday, when it rose on economic optimism after data showed previously-owned homes in the United States fell less than expected in February. * U.S. gold futures for April delivery hardly moved at $1,103.60 an ounce. * The euro hit a record low against the Swiss franc, with investors testing the Swiss central bank's tolerance of a stronger franc and with the euro undermined by debate over Greece. It also dropped to its lowest in three weeks against the dollar. [USD/] * The world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, SPDR Gold Trust , said its holdings stood at 1,120.079 tonnes as of March 23, up 4.568 tonnes from the previous business day. [GOL/SPDR] MARKET NEWS * Japan's Nikkei average rose 0.7 percent on Wednesday, with Mitsubishi Electric <6503.T> climbing after raising its annual earnings forecast to a net profit. [.T] * Oil prices rose slightly to near $82 a barrel on Tuesday as improving U.S. housing data and a boost in stock prices offset a stronger dollar that has kept oil from rising further. [O/R] * U.S. stocks rallied on Tuesday, led by the tech, industrial and materials sectors, driving the Dow and the S&P 500 to 18-month highs. [.N] * Sugar fell to nine-month lows on Tuesday and most other commodities fell also, but oil and gold rose as higher equity prices and a stronger dollar divided market direction. [COM/WRAP] DATA EVENTS * The following data is expected on Wednesday - France Markit/CADF Mfg Flash PMI March (0758 GMT) - Germany Markit/BME Mfg Flash March (0828 GMT) - Eurozone Market Mfg Flash March (0858 GMT) - Germany Ifo business climate March (0900 GMT) - Eurozone Industrial new orders Jan (1000 GMT) - U.S. Mortgage index weekly (1100 GMT) - U.S. Durable goods Feb (1230 GMT) - U.S. New home sales Feb (1400 GMT) - U.S. EIA weekly oil stocks (1430 GMT) - U.S. Building permits RELATED NEWS > U.S. home sales dip, credit-related surge eyed [nN23250133] > US senators vow speedy push on China currency bill [nN2396907] > Obama signs historic healthcare overhaul into law [nN22224563] > MF Global lures ex-governor Corzine to CEO post [nSGE62M0L8] > Germany sets tough terms for EU help for Greece [nLDE62M130] > European court rules Google's ad model is legal [nLDE62L0P7] Precious metals prices at 0029 GMT Metal Last Change Pct chg YTD pct chg Turnover Spot Gold 1103.20 1.55 +0.14 0.68 Spot Silver 16.93 -0.04 -0.24 0.59 Spot Platinum 1603.50 -3.50 -0.22 9.30 Spot Palladium 455.00 -9.50 -2.05 12.21 TOCOM Gold 3219.00 2.00 +0.06 -1.23 18237 TOCOM Platinum 4658.00 10.00 +0.22 6.32 6975 TOCOM Silver 49.80 0.10 +0.20 -3.68 152 TOCOM Palladium 1317.00 -4.00 -0.30 13.05 281 Euro/Dollar 1.3474 Dollar/Yen 90.44 TOCOM prices in yen per gram. Spot prices in $ per ounce. (Reporting by Lewa Pardomuan; Editing by Ed Lane)

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