FOREX-Aussie dollar up on hopes of US-China trade deal, sterling surges on Brexit deal hopes

Published 11/10/2019, 12:17
Updated 11/10/2019, 12:20
© Reuters.  FOREX-Aussie dollar up on hopes of US-China trade deal, sterling surges on Brexit deal hopes

* Euro up vs dollar as risk appetite returns

* Swedish, Norwegian crowns rise after major falls

* Graphic: World FX rates in 2019 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh

(Adds new quotes, updates prices and latest news developments)

By Olga Cotaga

LONDON, Oct 11 (Reuters) - The Australian dollar and Chinese

yuan, often seen as barometers of investor risk appetite, rose

Friday on hopes of progress in U.S.-China trade talks, while

optimistic comments about the prospects of a possible Brexit

divorce deal boosted sterling.

Top U.S. and Chinese negotiators wrapped up their first day

of trade talks on Thursday, with U.S. President Donald Trump

welcoming what he called a "very, very good negotiation with

China".

Business groups expressed optimism the two sides might be

able to de-escalate their trade war, which has sapped economic

growth around the globe. A Chinese newspaper said on Friday that a "partial" trade

deal would benefit China and the United States, reflecting

Beijing's aim of cooling the row before more U.S. tariffs kick

in. "Markets are increasingly narrowly driven, this means that

every piece of good news is going to propel markets strongly

higher. Currently investors are very optimistic about the

U.S.–China trade negotiations as well potential Brexit

resolution," said Marija Veitmane, multi-asset strategist at

State Street.

"However, we are yet to see concrete details on either deal.

We expect markets to sell off sharply should those hopes be

disappointed," she added.

The Australian dollar was up 0.5% at 0.6796 per U.S. dollar

AUD=D3 after rising to a two-week high of 0.6804 overnight.

The yuan was also higher at 7.0938 against the greenback

after hitting a three-week high in the Asian trading session of

7.0890 CNH=EBS .

The safe-haven yen JPY=EBS on the other hand slipped to

108.28 per dollar, its weakest since Oct. 1, as investors' risk

appetite improved.

The Swedish crown, which has been beaten up by the prospects

of dismal global economic growth as result of trade tensions,

got pushed up to a four-day high of 10.8065 against the euro

EURSEK=D3 , though its long-term weak trend remains unbroken

for now.

The euro edged up 0.3% to $1.1033 EUR=EBS , mirroring the

three-week high it reached on Thursday against the dollar, which

usually appreciates as a safe-haven currency when trade

relationships worsen.

Sterling surged to a three-month high of $1.2589 GBP=D3

and a five-month high of 87.65 pence against the euro

EURGBP=D3 on the back of "constructive" talks in Brussels

between British and European Union Brexit negotiators.

"Good news is always welcome, but at this stage it remains

just that: news," said Dean Turner, an economist at UBS Wealth

Management.

"The chances of a deal seem to have improved and the pound

has moved accordingly but hurdles still remain. Time to thrash

out the details of the deal is tight, and then there is the

question of parliamentary approval," Turner said.

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