(Updates prices)
* Graphic: World FX rates in 2020 https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E
* Dollar supported as safe-harbour currency
* Investors nervous as U.S. election approaches
* Yuan decline put on hold after central bank fixing
* Euro and pound hit by virus and trade talk concerns
By Stanley White
TOKYO, Oct 14 (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar held on to gains against most currencies on Wednesday as renewed questions about a coronavirus vaccine and lack of an agreement on additional U.S. fiscal stimulus prompted a shift to safer assets.
The yuan was little changed versus the dollar after the central bank's daily fixing of the yuan's mid-point was largely in line with estimates, suggesting authorities have paused their attempts to rein in the currency.
The euro and British pound are likely to extend declines, analysts said, as a return of restrictions on economic activity in Europe and Britain to battle a second wave of coronavirus infections unnerves investors. moves, however, are likely to be subdued as the U.S. presidential election looms on Nov. 3, but analysts said sentiment is leaning against riskier bets, which should support the dollar in the coming days.
"Many factors are pointing to more upside for the dollar," said Masafumi Yamamoto, chief currency strategist at Mizuho Securities.
"U.S. stimulus may not come until after the election. The People's Bank of China is halting the yuan's rise. There's no reason to buy the euro, and there are a lot of euro longs that need to be unwound."
The dollar last stood at $1.1743 per euro EUR=D3 , holding on to a 0.6% gain from the previous session.
The pound GBP=D3 traded at $1.2926, nursing a 1% loss from Tuesday.
Sterling also took a hit due to worries about little progress in trade talks between Britain and the European Union and the chance the Bank of England will adopt negative interest rates. appetite has weakened after Johnson & Johnson JNJ.N said on Tuesday it is pausing a clinical trial of a coronavirus vaccine and Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) and Co LLY.N also said it paused a coronavirus antibody treatment. are fading that U.S. Republicans and Democrats will reach a compromise on a new round of fiscal stimulus, which would deal a blow to the economic outlook.
Both developments are supporting the dollar, traders said.
The onshore yuan CNY=CFXS last traded at 6.7408 per dollar. On Monday the yuan posted its biggest daily fall in seven months after the central bank cut foreign exchange forward reserve requirements, which makes it cheaper to short the currency.
The Australian dollar AUD=D3 was little changed but is likely to add to its 1% decline on Tuesday due to concern about a row with Beijing over coal imports, traders said.
Across the Tasman Sea, the New Zealand dollar NZD=D3 edged higher against its U.S. counterpart.
Reserve Bank of New Zealand Assistant Governor Christian Hawkesby said on Wednesday that some economic data have surprised to the upside.
But he also said the central bank's discussion of negative interest rates is "not a game of bluff". ========================================================
Currency bid prices at 2:19PM (0519 GMT) Description
RIC
Last
U.S. Close Pct Change
YTD Pct
High Bid
Low Bid
Previous
Change
Session
Euro/Dollar
$1.1741
$1.1745
-0.03%
+4.72%
+1.1752
+1.1736 Dollar/Yen
JPY=D3
105.4300
105.4600
-0.05%
-2.96%
+105.5000 +105.3350 Euro/Yen
EURJPY=
123.79
123.89
-0.08%
+1.51%
+123.9500 +123.6500 Dollar/Swiss
0.9150
0.9149
+0.03%
-5.43%
+0.9155
+0.9147 Sterling/Dollar GBP=D3
1.2914
1.2937
-0.19%
-2.65%
+1.2943
+1.2911 Dollar/Canadian CAD=D3
1.3139
1.3136
+0.03%
+1.15%
+1.3157
+1.3134 Aussie/Dollar
AUD=D3
0.7167
0.7161
+0.08%
+2.14%
+0.7174
+0.7153 NZ
NZD=D3
0.6657
0.6648
+0.17%
-1.04%
+0.6665
+0.6645 Dollar/Dollar
All spots FX= Tokyo spots AFX= Europe spots EFX= Volatilities FXVOL= Tokyo Forex market info from BOJ TKYFX