NEW YORK: The dollar slipped to a more than one-week low on Friday, while currencies that benefit from higher risk appetite rose as investors focused on the possible resumption of talks for additional coronavirus stimulus. Republican and Democratic senators agreed on Thursday to revive those discussions, pushing the dollar lower after trading higher all day.
Overall, the greenback was on track to end the week on a loss. The week started off on a negative note for the dollar with positive news on a vaccine for Covid-19, but the market has since moved back and forth between focusing on coronavirus cases and the virus drug.
In mid-morning trading, the dollar was down 0.1% at 92.281 in a quiet day for currency markets. The dollar has fallen for eight out of the last 10 sessions, as currency traders' appetite for risk increased. The euro was flat against the dollar at $1.1870, on track for a small weekly gain.
The Australian dollar - seen as a liquid proxy for risk appetite - was on track for its best monthly gain versus the US dollar since April. It last traded up 0.4% at US$0.7313. The New Zealand dollar hit new two-year highs of US$0.6949, helped by positive risk appetite. It was last up 0.3% at US$0.6941
The US dollar was flat versus the Japanese yen at 103.72. Elsewhere, Bitcoin rose to a three-year high of $18,600 on Friday, up 4.5% on the day and close to its all-time high of just under $20,000.
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