Dollar gains keep gold pressured near 6-week low

(Recasts with new comments; updates prices)

* Silver drops 5% to near 2-month trough

* Dollar index hits 8-week peak

* More stimulus needed to support fragile recovery- Fed's Mester

* Interactive graphic tracking global spread of coronavirus: https://graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps/

By Arundhati Sarkar

Sept 23 (Reuters) - Gold extended losses to its lowest since mid-August on Wednesday as the dollar advanced, with investors awaiting further response from major central banks as economic uncertainty looms.

Spot gold dipped 1.5% to $1,870.11 per ounce by 10:42 a.m. ET (1442 GMT), having hit its lowest since Aug. 12 at $1,865.03. U.S. gold futures declined 1.8% to $1,873.20 per ounce.

"Gold is currently taking its cue from the dollar ... and the dollar strength continues to weigh on gold," said Standard Chartered analyst Suki Cooper.

"We could see a retest of the lows from early August, the next technical support level thereafter is around $1,840 per ounce, however prices are closing in on oversold territory."

The dollar index hit an eight-week high, dimming the appeal of bullion to holders of other currencies.

Gold prices declined, despite U.S. stocks retreating after data showed U.S. business activity nudged down in September.

"Long-term uncertainties are still looming and no investor would lose the opportunity of adding gold to their portfolio when prices are low," Phillip Streible, a senior market strategist for RJO Futures in Chicago said.

"Investors are waiting and watching what the major central banks will do next. At this moment most of the monetary and fiscal policies available have already been implemented."

Policymakers "are not even going to begin thinking" about raising interest rates until inflation hits 2%, Federal Reserve Vice Chair Richard Clarida said on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Cleveland Federal Reserve Bank President Loretta Mester said monetary policy will need to remain accommodative for the next several years and more fiscal stimulus is needed to support the economy.

Non-yielding gold is often seen as a hedge against inflation and currency weakening.

In other metals, silver slid 4.5% to $23.31, having hit a nearly two-month low of $22.99 earlier in the session.

Platinum shed 1.3% to $855.35 per ounce, earlier touching its lowest since July 21 at $845.50, and palladium rose 1% to $2,242.72. (Reporting by Swati Verma and Diptendu Lahiri in Bengaluru; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) ((Swati.Verma@thomsonreuters.com; within U.S. +1 646 223 8780 , outside U.S. +9180 6182 2831/3590; Reuters Messaging: swati.verma.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) Keywords: GLOBAL PRECIOUS/ (UPDATE 6, PIX)

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