PRECIOUS-Gold steady as markets assess Mideast ceasefire talks

By Noel John

March 26 (Reuters) - Gold prices held steady on Thursday, as investors awaited clearer signs of progress in Middle East de-escalation efforts and stayed cautious ahead of fresh geopolitical developments that could shape safe-haven demand.

Spot gold XAU= was steady at $4,503.29 per ounce as of 0300 GMT. U.S. gold futures GCcv1 for April delivery lost 1.2% to $4,500.

Iran said it is reviewing a U.S. proposal to end the war, but added it has no intentions of holding talks to end the widening conflict, the country's foreign minister said on Wednesday.

The U.S. had sent a 15-point ceasefire proposal to Tehran earlier this week, reportedly via Pakistan.

"In the next 24 to 48 hours (gold prices) will just be about reacting to headlines about negotiations," said Kyle Rodda, a senior financial market analyst at Capital.com.

"The really big moves will happen probably at the start of next week when it becomes clearer whether the U.S. launches a ground invasion in Iran over the weekend..."

U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to hit Iran harder if Tehran failed to accept that the country has been "defeated militarily", White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday.

Pressuring bullion, crude oil climbed above $100 a barrel as investors re-examined prospects for de-escalation in the Middle East. O/R

Since the start of the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, Tehran has attacked nations that host U.S. bases and effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, which handles a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas.

Higher crude prices tend to fuel inflation by pushing up transport and manufacturing costs. Although rising inflation typically boosts gold's appeal as a hedge, high interest rates weigh on demand for the non-yielding asset.

Spot silver XAG= fell 0.1% to $71.19 per ounce. Spot platinum XPT= lost 0.7% to $1,906.90, while palladium XPD= fell 1.4% to $1,404.