Gold prices held steady on Thursday as it drew support from the spreading turmoil in the Middle East and talk of extended loose US monetary policy after lackluster home sales data. Spot gold was nearly flat at $1,436.55 an ounce by 0703 GMT, while US gold was little changed at $1,436.80 an ounce.
Spot silver inched down 0.4 percent to $37.21 an ounce, after touching a 31-year high of $37.40 on Wednesday.