PRECIOUS-Gold holds steady near 2-1/2-week high as dollar dips

Feb 15 (Reuters) - Gold prices held steady on Thursday, near the 2-1/2-week high hit in the previous session, supported by a weaker dollar and as investors bet on higher U.S. inflation after a faster-than-expected rise in consumer prices last month. FUNDAMENTALS * Spot gold inched up 0.1 percent to $1,351.96 an ounce, as of 0202 GMT. The bullion touched $1,355.50 on Wednesday, its highest since Jan. 26. * It also recorded its biggest one-day percentage gain of 1.6 p