By Ishaan Arora

(Reuters) - Gold prices were little changed on Thursday, as margin calls ‌on sliding equities, a stronger dollar and dampened rate-cut bets offset safe-haven demand for bullion amid the escalating U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.

Spot gold was flat at $5,174.13 per ounce as of 0923 GMT. U.S. gold ​futures for April delivery also held steady at $5,180.20.

Global shares fell on Thursday as ​fresh attacks in the Gulf drove oil up over $100 a barrel and ⁠shattered any prospects of an imminent de-escalation in the Middle East conflict.

Iran said the ​world should brace for $200-a-barrel before two fuel tankers in Iraqi waters were set ablaze in attacks.

"These events ​are naturally the sort of things that would drive gold prices significantly higher (on safe-haven demand), I think gold is maybe being capped a little bit at the moment just because of liquidations generated by ​margin calls on equity futures," said Nitesh Shah, commodity strategist at WisdomTree.

He added the ​dollar and yields were also headwinds for bullion at the moment. The dollar extended gains to hold ‌near ⁠its strongest levels this year while benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yields were up at a five-week high.

U.S. consumer price index rose 0.3% in February, matching forecasts and accelerating from January's 0.2% increase.

Investors now await January's delayed Personal Consumption Expenditures index due Friday for more ​cues into the U.S. ​Federal Reserve's monetary ⁠policy path.

"Concerns are mounting over the Fed's approach to rate cuts, with higher oil prices raising the possibility of renewed inflation pressures. ​However, we see these pressures as temporary and do not expect ​the Fed ⁠to reverse its monetary policy stance," ANZ analysts wrote in a note.

ANZ expects gold to remain supported whether the Middle East conflict escalates or resolves early given it is only reinforcing ⁠a narrative ​that global relations are deteriorating and prompting central ​banks and institutions to diversify into gold.

Elsewhere, spot silver rose 1.3% to $86.86 per ounce. Spot platinum gained 0.6% to $2,182.96, ​while palladium rose 1.5% to $1,661.90.

Reporting by Ishaan Arora in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri

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