Spot gold prices were steady on Thursday, after three days of consecutive gains, as physical buying in Asia continued, while data from China showing a higher-than-expected inflation number supported sentiment. Spot gold lost $2.25 at $1,367.8 an ounce by 0551 GMT. US gold edged down 0.2 percent at $1,367.6. Holdings in the SPDR Gold Trust, the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, continued to decline.
It fell to 1,251.433 tonnes by January 19, its lowest since May 2010. IShares Silver Trust, the world's largest silver ETF, also pared holdings to 10,575.32 tonnes, its lowest in more than two months.