FOREX-Dollar higher as markets wait on stimulus news

* Graphic: World FX rates in 2020 https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E

(Adds details, updates prices; previous LONDON)
By Karen Brettell
NEW YORK, Oct 8 (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar edged higher against a basket of currencies on Thursday,
but held in its recent range as investors waited for fresh news on whether new U.S. fiscal stimulus is
likely in the near term.
The greenback has been whipsawed by swings in risk sentiment after U.S. President Donald Trump on
Tuesday halted negotiations with Democrats on a new economic package but later pushed for the approval of
more targeted stimulus bills to offset economic damage from the coronavirus.
There was little new information on Thursday to move the dollar strongly in either direction.
“We’re just really consolidating, I think the market right now lacks near-term conviction, partly
because of uncertainty about U.S. fiscal policy, and sensitivity to these U.S. presidential tweets,” said
Marc Chandler, chief market strategist at Bannockburn Global Forex in New York. “There’s no new news to
shake things up one way or another.”
The dollar index gained 0.12% against a basket of major currencies to 93.73. It has fallen from
a two-month high of 94.75 on Sept. 25.
The greenback was little changed against the Japanese yen at 105.97 yen, while the euro
fell 0.17% to $1.1740.
The dollar index has also weakened in the past two weeks on bets that Democrat presidential candidate
Joe Biden is more likely to win the Nov. 3 U.S. election, and that Democrats could also win the Senate.
A Democratic sweep would make larger fiscal stimulus more likely, which would weaken the U.S.
currency.
"Overall, investors seem to be focusing more on the increasing odds of a Biden win and what that might
imply for a stimulus package after the election," said Marshall Gittler, head of investment research at
BDSwiss.
The New Zealand dollar dropped as much as half a percent after central bank officials again
hinted that negative interest rates are possible. It was last down 0.06% at $0.6575.
Sterling traded 0.10% lower at $1.2905 as uncertainty about Britain's exit from the European
Union weighed on the currency.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is prepared to fully leave the EU without a deal when the Brexit
transition period ends, his spokesman said on Thursday, but the British leader still believes there is a
deal to be done.

========================================================
Currency bid prices at 9:35AM (1335 GMT)
Description RIC Last U.S. Close Pct Change YTD Pct High Bid Low Bid
Previous Change
Session
Euro/Dollar EUR= $1.1740 $1.1760 -0.17% +4.73% +1.1781 +1.1734
Dollar/Yen JPY= 105.9700 105.9600 +0.01% -2.65% +106.1000 +105.9300
Euro/Yen EURJPY= 124.43 124.63 -0.16% +2.03% +124.8700 +124.3800
Dollar/Swiss CHF= 0.9193 0.9172 +0.23% -5.01% +0.9196 +0.9158
Sterling/Dollar GBP= 1.2905 1.2918 -0.10% -2.67% +1.2970 +1.2892
Dollar/Canadian CAD= 1.3238 1.3253 -0.11% +1.94% +1.3269 +1.3229
Australian/Doll AUD= 0.7157 0.7138 +0.27% +1.94% +0.7170 +0.7124
ar
Euro/Swiss EURCHF= 1.0795 1.0789 +0.06% -0.53% +1.0800 +1.0782
Euro/Sterling EURGBP= 0.9094 0.9102 -0.09% +7.57% +0.9123 +0.9071
NZ NZD= 0.6575 0.6579 -0.06% -2.39% +0.6596 +0.6548
Dollar/Dollar
Dollar/Norway NOK= 9.2636 9.3016 -0.41% +5.53% +9.3085 +9.2586
Euro/Norway EURNOK= 10.8770 10.9430 -0.60% +10.56% +10.9588 +10.8788
Dollar/Sweden SEK= 8.8728 8.8743 -0.32% -5.08% +8.8902 +8.8586
Euro/Sweden EURSEK= 10.4178 10.4517 -0.32% -0.49% +10.4595 +10.4180


(Additional reporting by Ritvik Carvalho in London)