feb 2 reuters  gold was steady on wednesday above the 1800 psychological level as concerns surrounding ukraine supported the safehaven metal while investors awaited us jobs data that is considered key for the federal reserves tapering timeline  spot gold held its ground at 180125 per ounce as of 0102 gmt in the previous session bullion touched 180543 as investment demand strengthened with a weak us dollar and treasury yields offering further support  us gold futures were flat at 180110  reflecting investor appetite holdings of the worlds largest goldbacked exchangetraded fund spdr gold trust  rose to the highest level since midaugust on tuesday  ukraine announced plans to boost armed forces as european leaders lined up to back the country in a standoff with russia read more  philadelphia fed president patrick harker was cautious on tuesday as he pushed back on a rate hike of half a percentage point in march saying he would have to be convinced it was needed read more  although gold is considered a hedge against inflation and geopolitical risks interest rate hikes would raise the opportunity cost of holding nonyielding bullion  investors are looking forward to the us nonfarm payroll data due later this week  a measure of us manufacturing activity fell to a 14month low in january amid an outbreak of covid19 cases supporting the view that economic growth lost steam at the start of the year read more  spot silver was up 01 at 2266 an ounce and platinum rose 02 to 102865 while palladium shed 01 to 236065 reporting by asha sistla in bengaluru editing by sherry jacobphillips