FOREX-Dollar steady as markets wait on stimulus news

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

(Updates prices)
By Karen Brettell
NEW YORK, Oct 8 (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar was little changed against a basket of currencies on
Thursday 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.
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday said legislation to help airline
companies survive the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic was a matter of national security and could
only move through Congress with guarantees that lawmakers will work on a more comprehensive aid bill.
"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 =USD was little changed against a basket of major currencies at 93.60. It has
fallen from a two-month high of 94.75 on Sept. 25, but has held in a tight range between 93.33 and 93.90
this week.
The greenback was little changed at 105.99 Japanese yen JPY= , and against the euro EUR= at
$1.1757.
Investors have been increasing 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 NZD= dropped as much as half a percent after central bank officials again
hinted that negative interest rates are possible. It recovered later on Thursday and was last up 0.05% at
$0.6582. Sterling stabilized as prospects for a Brexit deal appeared to improve, with Britain giving it a 66%
chance of success. The pound GBP= was last up 0.12% at $1.2934.

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Currency bid prices at 3:04PM (1904 GMT)
Description RIC Last U.S. Close Pct Change YTD Pct High Bid Low Bid
Previous Change
Session
Euro/Dollar EUR= $1.1757 $1.1760 -0.03% +4.88% +1.1781 +1.1734
Dollar/Yen JPY= 105.9900 105.9600 +0.03% -2.63% +106.1000 +105.9300
Euro/Yen EURJPY= 124.63 124.63 +0.00% +2.20% +124.8700 +124.3800
Dollar/Swiss CHF= 0.9170 0.9172 -0.02% -5.25% +0.9196 +0.9158
Sterling/Dollar GBP= 1.2934 1.2918 +0.12% -2.45% +1.2970 +1.2892
Dollar/Canadian CAD= 1.3201 1.3253 -0.39% +1.66% +1.3269 +1.3198
Australian/Doll AUD= 0.7163 0.7138 +0.35% +2.02% +0.7170 +0.7124
ar
Euro/Swiss EURCHF= 1.0782 1.0789 -0.06% -0.62% +1.0800 +1.0781
Euro/Sterling EURGBP= 0.9089 0.9102 -0.14% +7.51% +0.9123 +0.9071
NZ NZD= 0.6582 0.6579 +0.05% -2.29% +0.6596 +0.6548
Dollar/Dollar
Dollar/Norway NOK= 9.2652 9.3016 -0.39% +5.55% +9.3085 +9.2586
Euro/Norway EURNOK= 10.8947 10.9430 -0.44% +10.74% +10.9588 +10.8770
Dollar/Sweden SEK= 8.8647 8.8743 -0.24% -5.16% +8.8947 +8.8586
Euro/Sweden EURSEK= 10.4264 10.4517 -0.24% -0.41% +10.4595 +10.4180