Latest News

* Dollar index at near one-week low

* ECB monetary policy decision due at 1245 GMT

* Interactive graphic tracking global spread of coronavirus:

(Updates prices)

By Asha Sistla

Jan 21 (Reuters) - Gold prices hovered near a two-week high on Thursday as the dollar slipped, with investors awaiting the passage of U.S. President Joe Biden's proposed $1.9 trillion dollar stimulus package.

Spot gold was little changed at $1,871.19 per ounce by 1222 GMT, after hitting its highest since Jan. 8 at $1,874.86 earlier in the day. Bullion had gained 1.7% on Wednesday.

U.S. gold futures rose 0.2% to $1,870.40.

"Basically what we've got at the moment is (gold) still consolidating. The tailwinds are the economic stimulus in the States and weakening of the dollar," said StoneX analyst Rhona O'Connell.

O'Connell added that it remained to be seen whether the stimulus would go through both houses of Congress as quickly as Biden's expectations and "that's probably one of the reasons why gold hasn't been going huge".

Biden's top priority remains the $1.9 trillion stimulus plan to revive a pandemic-hit economy, but it will require approval from a divided Congress, where Democrats hold slim advantages in both the House and Senate.

Gold is considered a hedge against inflation that can result from stimulus measures. However, higher yields have challenged that status recently as they increase the opportunity cost of holding non-yielding bullion.

The dollar slipped to a near one-week low and benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yields remained steady after Biden's inauguration and following a speech by his nominee for Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

However, with all the stimulus talk bound to boost inflation expectations, "in that scenario, the Federal Reserve will look to hold back on policy support and probably start thinking about unwinding current policy measures, which will boost the dollar and undermine the value of gold," said DailyFX currency strategist Ilya Spivak.

Investors await the European Central Bank monetary policy decision due at 1245 GMT.

Silver was up 0.3% to $25.89 an ounce. Platinum

gained 1.6% to $1,127, while palladium rose 0.7% to $2,387.89.

<^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Biden looks to galvanize COVID-19 fight, vaccinations as he takes office Biden announces return to global climate accord, new curbs on U.S. oil industry

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>

(Reporting by Asha Sistla and Sumita Layek in Bengaluru; editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Jason Neely)

((Asha.Sistla@thomsonreuters.com; If within U.S. +1 646 223 8780; outside U.S. +91 80 6182 2808; Reuters Messaging: Reuters Messaging: asha.sistla.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))