* Dollar holds at 3-week high on strong U.S. data

* Market monitors Greek debt crisis

* Coming up: U.S. non-farm payrolls, durable goods, factory orders

(Updates throughout, changes dateline from SINGAPORE)

By Clara Denina

LONDON, July 2 (Reuters) - Gold fell to a four-week low on Thursday, extending losses into a third straight session due to a strong dollar ahead of U.S. jobs data that could support expectations of the Federal Reserve lifting interest rates soon.

The market was also following developments in the Greek debt crisis, which however has failed to trigger strong retail demand for the metal, often perceived as a safe asset.

Spot gold XAU= slid to $1,164.25 an ounce, its lowest since June 5, and was trading down 0.3 percent at $1,164.45 by 1001 GMT. It has lost about 1 percent in the previous two sessions.

The dollar .DXY hit a three-week high against a basket of major currencies, supported by strong U.S. private employment data on Wednesday and weakness in the euro after Greece defaulted on a loan repayment to the International Monetary Fund. FRX/ ID:nL1N0ZH100

With U.S. markets closed on Friday for the July 4 Independence Day holiday, monthly non-farm payrolls data will be issued a day earlier than usual, along with durable goods numbers. ECONUS

A stronger U.S. currency makes dollar-denominated gold more expensive for foreign investors.

"Positive news from the U.S. economy will support the view the Fed will hike rates already in September," Danske Bank senior analyst Jens Pedersen said.

"And given that a September hike is still not priced in by the market, it could certainly weigh on gold."

More encouraging data could prompt the Fed to raise rates sooner rather than later, hurting demand for non-interest paying bullion. Gold prices have been hamstrung by the prospect of higher U.S. interest rates this year, which would increase the opportunity cost of holding the metal.

The focus in the Greek crisis is on Sunday's referendum.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has urged Greeks to reject an international bailout deal, wrecking any prospect of repairing relations with European Union partners before the referendum, which may decide Greece's future in Europe. ID:nL8N0ZH0TT

There is scope for the Greek crisis to drive more risk-averse money into gold if it worsens to the point where Greece leaves the euro zone, or if there is contagion in other economies in the bloc, such as Italy, Portugal or Spain, traders said. ID:nL8N0ZG3U8

Silver XAG= rose 0.6 percent to $15.62 an ounce, after losing 1.3 percent in the previous session. Palladium XPD= fell 0.6 percent to $693.75 an ounce and platinum XPT= dropped 0.5 percent to $1,077 an ounce.

(Additional reporting by A. Ananthalakshmi in Singapore; Editing by David Evans) ((clara.denina@thomsonreuters.com)(+44 207 542 9420)(Reuters Messaging: clara.denina.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))

Keywords: MARKETS PRECIOUS/