* SPDR Gold Trust GLD, the world's largest gold-backed exchange-traded fund, said its holdings fell 0.4% to 1,042.87 tonnes on Thursday. June 25 (Reuters) - Gold prices held steady on Friday as investors awaited U.S. inflation data due later in the day after mixed signals from Federal Reserve officials this week on interest rate hikes. * Data showed fewer Americans filed new claims for unemployment benefits last week as the labour market steadily recovers from the pandemic amid a reopening economy.