FOREX-Euro holds 8-week highs against the dollar as dovish Fed weighs

* Graphic: World FX rates https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E
* German Ifo data short of expectations
* Focus on Fed meeting ending Wednesday
* Bitcoin reclaims $50,000 bar
* Turkish lira close to all-time low

By Julien Ponthus
LONDON, April 26 (Reuters) - The euro held at an eight-week
high against the dollar on Monday despite a disappointing
sentiment survey in Germany as expectations the U.S. Federal
Reserve will maintain its dovish stance at a policy meeting
weighed on the greenback.
German business morale improved by less than expected in
April as a third wave of COVID-19 infections and problems with
supply of components in the industrial sector slowed a recovery
in Europe's largest economy.
"Both the third wave of infections and bottlenecks in
intermediate products are impeding Germany's economic recovery,"
Ifo President Clemens Fuest said in a statement.
The euro EUR=D3 gave up some of its earlier gains to stand
0.03% higher at $1.2105 at 0823 GMT, levels not seen since the
beginning of March.
On Friday, the common currency posted its biggest daily
gains since early February after positive data on European
services and manufacturing activity lifted sentiment.
The dollar index =USD was down 0.13% at its lowest level
since March 3.
The Fed's next meeting ends on Wednesday, and while no major
policy changes are expected, investors will pay close attention
to comments from Chairman Jerome Powell.
Powell is likely to face questions over whether an improving
labour market and rising coronavirus vaccinations warrant a
withdrawal of monetary easing, but most analysts expect him to
say such talk is premature, which would put downward pressure on
Treasury yields and the dollar.
"The Fed has managed to convince the market that it is in no
position to begin contemplating tapering, never mind raising
rates, for – in their own words – 'some time'," John Velis, a
strategist at BNY Mellon wrote to clients.
The dollar stood at 107.68 yen JPY=EBS , close to its
lowest since March 4.
The British pound GBP=D3 was 0.3% higher at $1.3924,
adding to a 0.3% gain in the previous session.
In emerging markets, the Turkish lira TRYTOM=D3 weakened
to as much as 8.48 versus the dollar, close to its record low of
8.58 reached in early November.
The currency, among the worst performers in emerging markets
this year due to worsening relations with the United States and
worries about a dovish central bank governor, was last quoted at
8.33.
The onshore yuan CNY=CFXS edged up to 6.4873 per dollar,
just shy of a six-week high.
Elsewhere, the Australian AUD=D3 and New Zealand dollars
NZD=D3 rose toward one-month highs.
In the cryptocurrency market, Bitcoin BTC=BTSP reclaimed
the $50,000 mark, last trading 7.6% higher at $52,862 and
recouping some of its losses from last week triggered by U.S.
President Joe Biden's plan to raise capital gains taxes for
wealthy investors. <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
World FX rates https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>