* Graphic: World FX rates in 2020 https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E
* Dollar loses out as risk appetite improves
* Vaccine, Biden transition boost sentiment
* Bitcoin trades near an all-time high
By Stanley White
TOKYO, Nov 25 (Reuters) - The dollar nursed losses on Wednesday as progress in developing a novel coronavirus vaccine and expectations for a fiscal boost from a new U.S. government triggered a shift of funds from the greenback to riskier assets.
The U.S. currency teetered near a two-month low against the Australian dollar and a two-year low against the New Zealand dollar, both considered barometers of risk sentiment due to their close ties with the global commodities trade.
Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency known for extreme volatility, also traded near an all-time high, in a further sign that investors are growing more comfortable taking on riskier positions.
The U.S. dollar is expected to continue to fall as progress on a vaccine and the expected choice of former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen as the next U.S. Treasury secretary relieved two big uncertainties for investors.
"Rising yields may lend the dollar some support, but the overall direction is it will head lower," said Junichi Ishikawa, senior foreign exchange strategist at IG Securities in Tokyo.
"The trend has shifted to favour risk assets. Yellen will team up with the Fed and support the economy. U.S. rates will remain low for a long time."
The dollar stood at $1.1904 against the euro EUR=EBS on Wednesday, close to a two-week low.
The British pound GDP=D3 bought $1.3349, close to its highest in more than two months.
Against the yen JPY=D3 , the dollar held steady at 104.46.
Research suggesting that a COVID-19 vaccine could be available before the end of the year has sent U.S. stocks surging to record highs and reduced the appeal of holding the dollar as a safe-harbour currency. appetite has also improved after U.S. President Donald Trump's administration began cooperating with the President-elect Joe Biden's transition team, and after reports that Yellen, an advocate of more fiscal spending, will take the top job at the Treasury. dollar index =USD , pitting the dollar against a basket of six major currencies, was at 92.121 after falling 0.4% on Tuesday.
The onshore yuan CNY=CFXS rose to 6.5799 per dollar on hopes for better Sino-U.S. ties under Biden. Other Asian currencies also edged higher.
The Antipodean currencies were already on the front foot as investors unwound bets for additional monetary easing in both countries.
Improving risk appetite means the Australian dollar's AUD=D3 next target is its high of $0.7413 on Sept. 1.
The New Zealand dollar NZD=D3 , which has rallied 5.5% so far this month, is trading just shy of its strongest since June 2018.
Bitcoin BTC=BTSP , the most popular cryptocurrency, eased slightly to $18,852 but was still near its record of $19,666 from December 2017.
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Currency bid prices at 2:45PM (0545 GMT) Description
RIC
Last
U.S. Close Pct Change
YTD Pct
High Bid
Low Bid
Previous
Change
Session
Euro/Dollar
EUR=EBS
$1.1904
$1.1895
+0.08%
+6.18%
+1.1910
+1.1888 Dollar/Yen
JPY=D3
104.4650
104.4300
+0.03%
-3.83%
+104.5950 +104.4600 Euro/Yen
EURJPY=
124.36
124.17
+0.15%
+1.98%
+124.4700 +124.2000 Dollar/Swiss
0.9110
0.9111
-0.02%
-5.86%
+0.9114
+0.9106 Sterling/Dollar GBP=D3
1.3349
1.3361
-0.01%
+0.72%
+1.3366
+1.3355 Dollar/Canadian CAD=D3
1.3008
1.2997
+0.06%
+0.11%
+1.3008
+1.2991 Aussie/Dollar
AUD=D3
0.7345
0.7361
-0.20%
+4.70%
+0.7373
+0.7346 NZ
NZD=D3
0.6974
0.6979
-0.04%
+3.67%
+0.6988
+0.6970 Dollar/Dollar
All spots FX= Tokyo spots AFX= Europe spots EFX= Volatilities FXVOL= Tokyo Forex market info from BOJ TKYFX