* Graphic: World FX rates in 2019 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
By Elizabeth Howcroft
Nov 15 (Reuters) - Optimism that the United States and China
may soon end their trade war after White House economic advisor
Larry Kudlow said a deal was "getting close" lifted
trade-exposed currencies on Friday at the expense of safe-haven
assets such as the yen.
Given the lack of concrete detail in Kudlow's comments,
however, markets stayed mostly cautious. "To be blunt, such rhetoric is more or less the same as
Steven Mnuchin (who) said months ago that a deal was "99%
done"," Commerzbank analysts wrote in a note to clients, though
they acknowledged the comments had benefited sentiment.
They said the comments could not be taken seriously until
the trade documents could be assessed and a deal was signed.
The dollar rose 0.1% versus both the yen and Swiss franc
JPY=EBS CHF=EBS , while the New Zealand and Australian
dollars firmed slightly on the news, the latter rising off
four-week lows NZD=D3 AUD=D3 .
While China's commerce ministry said the two countries were
holding "in-depth" discussions and U.S. President Donald Trump
said on Tuesday a deal was close, the Financial Times, citing
sources, said an agreement may not be reached in time to avoid a
new round of U.S. tariffs taking effect on Dec. 15. The Norwegian crown rose 0.3% versus the dollar NOK=D3 and
0.2% versus the euro EURNOK=D3 while the Swedish crown tracked
these gains but to a lesser extent SEK=D3 EURSEK=D3 . The
yuan firmed modestly to the dollar but was still set to snap a
six-week winning streak against the dollar CNH=EBS .
The Swiss franc trade around 1.09 to the euro, which fell
below this threshold on Thursday when risk aversion gripped
markets EURCHF=EBS .
The euro is set for its biggest weekly fall against the
franc since early August, raising speculation the Swiss National
Bank has stepped back from its interventionist policy but the
central bank reiterated on Thursday its willingness to intervene
to stop the currency strengthening too much The next scheduled economic updates are euro zone trade and
inflation data due at 1000 GMT and the New York Fed
manufacturing survey due at 1330 GMT.