* Major currencies little changed in Asian trade
* Pound edges higher, yen inches lower
* Graphic: World FX rates in 2019 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
By Hideyuki Sano and Tom Westbrook
TOKYO/SINGAPORE, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Major currencies marked
time on Monday as traders looked to whether Washington and
Beijing can soon sign off on a deal to end a trade war that has
been a drag on global economic growth.
Faint optimism for a breakthrough was supported by a
reporton Sunday from Chinese state news wire Xinhua, which said
the two sides had "constructive talks" over the weekend.
"It all sounds promising," said Marshall Gittler Chief
Strategist at FX analysis firm ACLS Global. "But China has made
rolling back some of the tariffs a precondition for the
agreement and it's not clear whether Trump will agree to
that...so net-net, it's still up in the air."
Against the safe-haven yen, the dollar a lifted a little to
108.81 yen JPY= .
The euro stood at $1.1062 EUR= , bouncing back from a
one-month low of $1.0989 set on Thursday. That helped to push
down the dollar index .DXY to 97.905, its lowest level since
Nov. 7.
"Markets are on the prowl for good news but exchange rates
are likely to remain range-bound in the quiet week ahead," said
Eugene Leow, rates strategist at Singapore's DBS Bank.
The liveliest mover was the British pound GBP= , which rose
0.2% to a two-week high of $1.2929 after Prime Minister Boris
Johnson said all Conservative Party candidates at the Dec. 12
election had pledged to back his Brexit deal. It was also supported by fresh opinion polls pointing to a
Conservative victory.
The Australian dollar traded down 0.2% at $0.6809 AUD=D3 ,
while the kiwi NZD=D3 was marginally higher at $0.6400.
The Chinese yuan CNY= , the most sensitive currency to the
trade dispute, edged lower to 7.0106 per dollar.
"USD/CNY above 7.0 suggests that the market is not yet
convinced a solution is near," said Gittler.
The U.S.-China tariff war has taked a toll on the world's
manufacturing.
Data from the U.S. Federal Reserve on Friday showed the U.S.
manufacturing downturn deepened in October, while China data
out last Thursday also showed a slowdown.