NEW YORK: The dollar held steady on Thursday as investors were cautious over expectations about a Covid-19 vaccine that is unlikely to avert a grim winter in the United States and Europe as the pandemic’s latest wave intensifies.
The dollar index was up 0.01% in the morning in New York, after having rebounded a little in London from lows during Asia trading.
The latest US weekly jobless claims report did not budge the dollar when it came out on Thursday morning. The report showed the pace of decline in claims had slowed to 709,000 compared with 757,000 the prior week and forecasts for 735,000 claims.
The euro bumped higher by 0.14% to $1.1796.
The euro is trying to find its feet “after the vaccine-related storm of activity at the start of the week, and after the US election news,” said Jane Foley, head of FX strategy at Rabobank.
Earlier in Asia, the New Zealand dollar made a fresh 20-month high versus the US dollar as traders became less convinced that negative rates are a sure thing for New Zealand.
The dollar gained 0.6% against the Canadian dollar $1.314. Sterling licked its wounds as trade talks between Britain and the European Union seemed set to drag on past yet another deadline, raising the prospect that no trade deal may be reached before Brexit transition arrangements end on Dec. 31. The British currency last traded 0.5% lower to the dollar at $1.3149.—Reuters
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