Gold steadied near a record high on Thursday, as softer-than-expected U.S. producer prices data reinforced expectations of a Federal Reserve interest rate cut next week, while investors awaited U.S. consumer inflation data due later in the day.Spot gold held its ground at $3,636.59 per ounce, as of 0233 GMT. Bullion hit a record high of $3,673.95 on Tuesday.