* U.S. non-farm payrolls show 225,000 job gains
* Euro hurt by poor German data, worst week since November
* Coronavirus fears keep sentiment fragile, yen gains
* Death toll from virus reaches 637
* Fed cites coronavirus as a risk to U.S. growth
* GRAPHIC-World FX rates in 2019: http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
(New throughout, updates prices, market activity and comments, adds Fed's monetary policy report)
By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss
NEW YORK, Feb 7 (Reuters) - The dollar vaulted to a four-month peak against of basket of major
currencies on Friday, propelled by a strong U.S. non-farm payrolls report that followed a spate of upbeat
economic data this week, a scenario expected to keep interest rates steady.
The dollar index posted its largest weekly percentage gain in more than two years.
The U.S. currency also hit a two-month high against sterling and the Canadian dollar, a six-week peak
versus the Swiss franc, and a four-month high against the euro.
However, the dollar fell against the safe-haven yen amid persistent fears about the coronavirus
outbreak in China, although investors were focused a little more on U.S. payrolls data for much of the New
York session.
Data showed U.S. nonfarm payrolls increased by 225,000 jobs last month, with employment at
construction sites increasing by the most in a year given milder-than-normal temperatures. Economists
polled by Reuters had forecast payrolls would rise by 160,000 jobs in January. "Today's positive prints confirmed that the U.S. job market is firing on all cylinders, the U.S.
economy is expanding," said Olivier Konzeoue, FX Sales Trader at Saxo Markets in London. "The Federal
Reserve looks set to stay put for the time being."
In afternoon trading, the dollar index .DXY rose 0.2% to 98.687.
The dollar was also up 0.3% against the Swiss franc at 0.9772 franc CHF= , gained 0.1% versus the
Canadian dollar to C$1.3301 CAD- and climbed 0.3% versus sterling, which fell to $1.2887 GBP= .
The greenback, though, fell 0.2% against the yen to 109.76 yen JPY= on what analysts said was more a
safe-haven play for the Japanese currency in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
The Fed, in its latest monetary policy report to the U.S. Congress released on Friday, cited the
fallout from the spreading virus as one of the risks to the U.S. economic outlook. "This is the first major hint that the Fed is concerned that the virus could possibly derail global
growth," said Edward Moya, senior market analyst, at OANDA in New York.
The death toll in mainland China reached 637 on Friday, with a total of 31,211 cases, WHO chief Tedros
Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday in Geneva. The virus has spread globally, with 320 cases in 27
countries and regions outside mainland China, a Reuters tally of official statements shows. Across the Atlantic, the euro fell to its lowest since October on Friday after German industrial
output recorded its biggest decline in a decade in December. The European single currency dropped to as
low as $1.0943 EUR= , and was last down 0.3%. It has lost 1.3% since Monday, its worst weekly loss since
November.
The offshore yuan was down 0.4% at 7.005 yuan per dollar CNH= , though it was still set for a small
gain this week thanks to stimulus from China's central bank and Beijing's announcement of tariff cuts on
U.S. imports. Currency bid prices at 3:53 PM (2053 GMT)
Description RIC Last U.S. Close Pct Change YTD Pct High Bid Low Bid
Previous Change
Session
Euro/Dollar EUR= $1.0945 $1.0980 -0.32% -2.36% +1.0985 +1.0943
Dollar/Yen JPY= 109.7600 109.9900 -0.21% +0.83% +110.0200 +109.5400
Euro/Yen EURJPY= 120.14 120.78 -0.53% -1.48% +120.8000 +120.1000
Dollar/Swiss CHF= 0.9773 0.9744 +0.30% +0.97% +0.9781 +0.9740
Sterling/Dollar GBP= 1.2887 1.2928 -0.32% -2.81% +1.2958 +1.2887
Dollar/Canadian CAD= 1.3302 1.3284 +0.14% +2.43% +1.3319 +1.3280
Australian/Doll AUD= 0.6677 0.6730 -0.79% -4.90% +0.6736 +0.6663
Euro/Swiss EURCHF= 1.0698 1.0702 -0.04% -1.42% +1.0710 +1.0680
Euro/Sterling EURGBP= 0.8492 0.8492 +0.00% +0.45% +0.8497 +0.8462
NZ NZD= 0.6399 0.6456 -0.88% -5.00% +0.6463 +0.6399
Dollar/Dollar
Dollar/Norway NOK= 9.2933 9.2171 +0.83% +5.87% +9.2986 +9.2168
Euro/Norway EURNOK= 10.1730 10.1228 +0.50% +3.41% +10.1974 +10.1184
Dollar/Sweden SEK= 9.6564 9.6221 +0.03% +3.31% +9.6615 +9.6083
Euro/Sweden EURSEK= 10.5704 10.5672 +0.03% +0.97% +10.5844 +10.5357
Euro vs U.S. dollar https://tmsnrt.rs/37aqSnn
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