Investors place their hopes for economic recovery on early rollout coronavirus vaccines, even as the world faces surging cases and delays to fresh U.S. stimulus.
Worries about rising infection numbers and risks to the fragile global economic recovery made global markets cautious.
Fresh positive news from promising vaccine trials offset concerns around the stubbornly high global infection rate and tighter restrictions.
Sentiment across markets was mixed, caught between fears that Europe heads for a double-dip recession and promising vaccine news.
Risk appetite in currency markets eased, as rising COVID-19 hospitalisations in Europe and the United States tempered euphoria about a possible vaccine.