  GRS 1758-258 is one of the few persistent hard X-ray emitters (E>100 keV) in
the Galaxy. Using the ASCA satellite, we have obtained the first detailed data
on GRS 1758-258 in the 1-10 keV range, where previous observations were
affected by confusion problems caused by the nearby strong source GX5-1. The
spectrum is well described by a power law with photon index 1.7 without strong
Fe emission lines. A prominent soft excess, as observed with ROSAT when the
hard X-ray flux was in a lower intensity state, was not detected. However, the
presence of a soft spectral component, accounting for at most 5% of the 0.1-300
keV flux, cannot be excluded. The accurate measurement of interstellar
absorption (N_H=(1.5+-0.1) x 10^22 cm -2) corresponds to an optical extinction
which definitely excludes the presence of a massive companion.
