* Pound sinks broadly on Brexit jitters
* Dollar bid higher after recent weakness
* Quiet trading among G10 majors
* Graphic: World FX rates in 2020 https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E
(Adds new comment, FX table, updates prices, changes byline, dateline; previous LONDON)
By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss
NEW YORK, Dec 8 (Reuters) - The dollar gained on Tuesday, taking a breather from a sell-off that took
it to its lowest in more than 2-1/2 years last week, as U.S. equities came under pressure after recent
gains, while sterling slid as investors awaited the outcome of Brexit trade-deal talks.
"Any good news we had on the vaccines last week has been fully priced in, said Ron Simpson, managing
director, global currency analysis, at Action Economics in Tampa, Florida.
"So I don't think there's anymore vaccine upside for equities. If equities remain under pressure,
we're going to see the dollar hold its own in the short term."
An index tracking the dollar's value =USD rose 0.1% to 90.978.
Upbeat economic sentiment data from Germany lifted the euro earlier in the session, but it was last
flat to slightly lower at $1.2104 EUR=EBS .
German investor sentiment soared more than expected in December on expectations that vaccines against
the coronavirus would boost the outlook for Europe's largest economy.
The ZEW economic research institute said its survey of investors' economic sentiment moved up to 55.0
from 39.0 in the previous month. A Reuters poll had forecast a reading of 45.5. So far this year, the euro has gained more than 8% versus the greenback.
Tuesday's big mover was sterling, which sank against both the dollar and the euro.
With only three weeks to go for Britain to fully complete its exit from the European Union, leaders
have failed to narrow differences on a post-Brexit trade deal. Against the dollar, the pound was last 0.4% lower at $1.3323 GBP=D3 It was also 0.6 lower against
the euro, which rose to 90.82 pence EURGBP=D3 . GBP/
"The market base case is clearly still a (slim) trade deal when judged from prediction and betting
markets," said Andreas Steno Larsen, chief global strategist at Nordea.
"No one really dares to call the no deal with WTO-tariffs scenario ... we could still have a grim
trading period ahead for the GBP if negotiations break down."
Implied volatility on the pound - a measure of expected future swings in the currency - hit
eight-month highs, a sign that traders were preparing for gyrations. GBPSWO=FN GBPONO=FN
The dollar was up 0.1% against the yen at 104.16 yen JPY=EBS , but it slipped 0.1% versus the Swiss
franc to 0.8896 franc CHF=EBS .
Overall, the dollar's weak trend remained firmly entrenched, analysts said.
"The dollar is going to remain under pressure in 2021 and continue heading lower as economies reopen
and also because there's going to be a lot of demand for emerging market currencies," Action Economics'
Simpson said.
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Currency bid prices at 10:43AM (1543 GMT)
Description RIC Last U.S. Close Pct Change YTD Pct High Bid Low Bid
Previous Change
Session
Dollar index =USD $90.9770 90.8790 +0.12% +0.00% +91.0180 +90.7500
Euro/Dollar EUR=EBS $1.2105 $1.2109 -0.03% +7.97% +1.2134 +1.2096
Dollar/Yen JPY=D3 104.1800 104.0700 +0.13% -4.06% +104.1950 +104.0300
Euro/Yen EURJPY= 126.10 125.99 +0.09% +3.40% +126.2500 +125.8700
Dollar/Swiss CHF=EBS 0.8892 0.8909 -0.19% -8.11% +0.8914 +0.8882
Sterling/Dollar GBP=D3 1.3313 1.3383 -0.49% +0.41% +1.3391 +1.3289
Dollar/Canadian CAD=D3 1.2808 1.2800 +0.07% -1.40% +1.2811 +1.2769
Aussie/Dollar AUD=D3 0.7403 0.7419 -0.21% +5.52% +0.7435 +0.7400
Euro/Swiss EURCHF= 1.0764 1.0785 -0.19% -0.81% +1.0799 +1.0764
Euro/Sterling EURGBP= 0.9091 0.9049 +0.46% +7.53% +0.9116 +0.9051
NZ NZD=D3 0.7037 0.7042 -0.06% +4.59% +0.7053 +0.7023
Dollar/Dollar
Dollar/Norway NOK=D3 8.7760 8.7515 +0.44% +0.21% +8.7900 +8.7250
Euro/Norway EURNOK= 10.6240 10.5853 +0.37% +7.99% +10.6430 +10.5779
Dollar/Sweden SEK= 8.4792 8.3959 +0.90% -9.29% +8.4934 +8.3910
Euro/Sweden EURSEK= 10.2640 10.1723 +0.90% -1.96% +10.2815 +10.1675
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