Gold retains gains on weak US jobs data, growth fears

SINGAPORE, Feb 10 (Reuters): Gold held steady on Monday after posting its biggest weekly gain in five weeks on speculation that the Federal Reserve would slow the pace of its stimulus tapering after a weak US jobs report raised questions over the state of economic recovery.

Spot gold was little changed at $1,266.01 an ounce by 0021 GMT, after gaining 0.7 percent in the previous trading session.

Gold is often seen as a safe-haven investment.

Data on Friday showed that US job creation slowed sharply over the past two months, turning in the weakest performance in three years.  

A union steward was killed in a clash with police at an Anglo American Platinum mine in South Africa, where workers were holding a strike to press for higher wages.