Gold held on to small overnight gains on Thursday, as sluggish US retail sales data and geopolitical tensions boosted the metal's safe-haven appeal, although higher stock markets could check any further rise. Spot gold was steady at $1,312.10 an ounce by 0634 GMT, after gaining 0.3 percent in the previous session. US gold slipped about $1 to $1,313.40. "Despite gold's move higher, prices remained stuck in a tight $20 trading range between $1,305-$1,325," HSBC said in a note. "Barring any new geopolitical developments, bullion prices are likely to trade sideways in the near-term."