SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Gold rose towards its record high on Thursday, supported by worries about the widening euro zone debt crisis and slowing global growth and shrugging off strength in the dollar after Japan's intervention in the currency market. "Gold seems to have wings at the moment as there are lots of macro and sovereign debt uncertainties," said David Thurtell, an analyst at Citigroup. "The price of $1,700 seems easy in the current climate, and the market is probably targeting $2,000 now." Spot gold gained 0.4 percent to $1,666.49 an ounce by 0341 GMT, off a record of $1,672.65 set in the previous session. U.S. gold edged up 0.2 percent to $1,669.6 an ounce. It reached an all-time high of $1,675.9 on Wednesday. Gold has hit record highs in the past two consecutive sessions, even after the United States averted a debt default, as investors focused on the gloomy outlook for global growth, while the sovereign debt crisis in the euro zone threatened to engulf Italy. The European Central Bank is expected to halt its rate hike cycle and probably signal a readiness to buy bonds again, when policymakers meet later in the day. Investors are also eyeing the key U.S. payrolls data for July due on Friday, after a recent spate of disappointing data including slowing manufacturing sector growth and faltering consumer spending fueled fears of deteriorating economic conditions.

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