Gold prices rose on Thursday, to head for the second straight daily gain, as the US dollar fell against a basket of major currencies, but today's gains are still ebbed by weak safe-haven demand.

Gold prices rose 0.4% to $1,880.61 an ounce, after opening at $1,873.08, and hit a session-low at $1,870.90.

The yellow metal gained 0.9% yesterday, and posted its first gain in 4 days as the US dollar's rally paused.

The dollar index fell 0.3% today, deepening its losses for the second straight day, which lifts gold and other dollar-denominated metals prices.

The dollar's rally paused after the US Congress passed a new fiscal stimulus package, while Britain and the European Union are getting close to reaching a Brexit trade deal.

Gold prices gained about 24% so far during 2020, on track for the second straight annual gain and the largest since 2010, based on strong safe-haven demand due to the coronavirus pandemic and the global economic closures and lockdown that followed it.

Gold stocks at the SPDR ETF remained unchanged yesterday, with the total at the lowest level since June 22 of 1,167.53 metric tonnes.

Asian stock indices opened the fourth session of the week mostly higher with Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and South Koreas higher, while China lost ground. 

Pfizer announced its coronavirus vaccine has shown efficacy against the new Covid 19 strands, while the US government requested a 100 million additional doses from the vaccine. 

From Japan, the services prices index fell 0.6% as expected, compared to a 0.5% drop before. 

Japan's TOPEX rose 0.56% to 1,775, while Nikkei 225 climbed 0.53% to 26,665. 

China's CSI 300 declined by 0.14 points to 5,006, while Shanghai fell 0.30% to 3,372. 

Hong Kong's Hang Seng rose 0.13%, while South Korea's KOSPI climbed 0.95% to 2,786. 

New Zealand's NZX 50 rose 0.14%, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose to 6,664. 

USD/JPY tilted higher in Asian trade off March 10 lows following earlier data from Japan and amid a lack thereof from the US today. 

As of 06:51 GMT, USD/JPY rose 0.02% to 103.59, with an intraday high at 103.62. 

From Japan, the services prices index fell 0.6% as expected, compared to a 0.5% drop before. 

US President Donald Trump used his veto power on the military spending bill, valued at $740 billion and asking Congress for more to to help expand national security measures. 

Trump also criticized the new financial rescue bill passed by Congress and valued at $892 billion and threatened to veto it as well. 

Otherwise, Pfizer announced its coronavirus vaccine has shown efficacy against the new Covid 19 strands, while the US government requested a 100 million additional doses from the vaccine. 

The British pound rose against most of its peers on Wednesday, amid anticipation of the latest updates regarding the Covid-19 vaccines after the emergence of a new strain of the virus in the UK and other countries.

Pfizer announced that its vaccine -developed in cooperation with BoiNTech- was effective in preventing the new coronavirus strain.

White House top infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci stated that wants to obtain samples of the new coronavirus strain for testing.

Coronavirus infections surpassed 78 million cases globally, with a death toll of nearly 1.725 million victims.

Otherwise, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson stressed that the Brexit negotiations with the European Union have not resulted in progress, adding that an agreement yet is not close.

As of 20:12 GMT, GBP/USD rose 0.9% to 1.3477, after hitting a high of 1.3560 and a low of 1.3357.