NEW YORK, Aug 5 (Reuters) - U.S. gold futures retreated on Wednesday as a stronger dollar and weaker equities prompted bullion commodity funds to consolidate recent profits, but recovering investor risk appetite should provide underlying support. For the latest detailed report, click on [GOL/]. GOLD * December gold GCZ9 down $7.70 at $962 an ounce at 10:48 a.m. EDT (1448 GMT) on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange. * Ranging from $970.30 to $961.10 an ounce. * Precious metals complex largely tracked the U.S. stock market, which also weakened after solid gains this week. * Recent bullion gains have been helped by increased risk appetite, rather than improvement in fundamental factors, and jumping on an upward trend would be difficult - Tom Pawlicki, precious metals and energy analyst at MF Global. * Dollar traded higher against the euro, but it largely stemmed losses against a basket of major currencies after a report showed U.S. private employers cut more jobs than expected in July. [USD/] * Decline in crude oil prices also pressured gold, after a weekly U.S. report showed inventory increased more than expected. [O/R] * Gold/oil ratio at 13.63, higher than 13.52 from the previous session * COMEX estimated 9 a.m. gold volume at 23,126 lots. * Spot gold XAU= at $960.60 an ounce, compared with $966.75 an ounce in late New York business in Tuesday. * London afternoon gold fix XAUFIX= at $960.75 an ounce. SILVER * September silver SIU9 down 6 cents at $14.635 an ounce. * Ranging from $14.545 to $14.850 an ounce, the loftiest level since June 12. * Silver retreated with gold and other metals after a rally this week - traders. * COMEX estimated 9 a.m. silver volume at 5,763 lots. * Spot silver XAG= was at $14.65 an ounce, versus $14.61 an ounce in Tuesday's late quote. * London silver fix XAGFIX= at $14.67 an ounce. PLATINUM * October platinum PLV9 turns lower, down $9.30 at $1,267.50 an ounce as weak metals more than offset initial gains based on supply worries from top producer South Africa. * South Africa's biggest union said its members planned to strike at power firm Eskom [ESCJ.UL] next week, raising the threat of electricity disruptions in the country, which is also a major gold supplier. [ID:nL5252552] * Spot platinum XPT= at $1,263.50 versus $1,265.50. PALLADIUM * September palladium PAU9 down $5.45, or 2.3 percent, at $275.45 an ounce, tracking platinum's losses. * Spot palladium XPD= at $272.50, against its previous finish of $274.50. (Reporting by Frank Tang; Editing by Walter Bagley)

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