Gold little changed after steep losses

TOKYO (Reuters) - Gold was little changed on Thursday after falling almost 3 percent the previous day as a bleak report on the U.S. job market dashed hopes of an inflation-driven gold rally, pushed down stocks and increased demand for cash.

-- As of 12:20 a.m. British time, spot gold stood at $843.75 per ounce, up 0.2 percent from New York's notional close of $842.20.

-- On Wednesday, gold hit a two-week low of $834.80, while U.S. stocks suffered their worst decline in more than a month after a grim private-sector jobs report by ADP coupled with a revenue warning from top chip maker Intel (INTC.O) revived deep concerns about the economy. .N

-- The Tokyo stock market tracked Wall Street lower, with the benchmark Nikkei share average .N225 falling more than 2 percent. .T

-- Oil prices stayed weak after tumbling 12 percent on Wednesday in the largest percentage drop in seven years, another factor weighing on gold.

-- U.S. crude futures traded down 0.2 percent at $42.52 per barrel after falling almost $6 on Wednesday, when a U.S. government report showed crude inventories rose much more than expected in the world's top energy consumer.

-- The dollar was firmer against the euro, but gains were limited after the data showing huge job losses in the U.S. private sector.

-- The euro was down 0.3 percent at $1.3612, having touched a one-month low of $1.3312 earlier this week.

-- COMEX gold futures were lower in Asia after falling 2.8 percent on Wednesday. U.S. gold futures for February delivery stood at $843.1 per ounce, up $1.3 from Wednesday's settlement on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.