PRECIOUS-Gold prices hold steady as dollar eases

Gold prices held steady on Thursday, after rising nearly a percent in the previous session, as the dollar retreated further from a 16-month peak against a basket of currencies. FUNDAMENTALS * Spot gold was little changed at $1,210.65 per ounce at 0055 GMT. * U.S. gold futures were flat 0.1 percent at $1,203 per ounce. * The dollar index , which measures the greenback against a basket of six major currencies, was down about 0.1