Dollar falls, sterling recovers in Asia

The dollar was on course for a weekly loss on Friday as the US Federal Reserve's massive new lending programme for small companies and signs of a slowdown in coronavirus infections reduced safe-haven demand.

The pound pulled ahead against the dollar and the euro as markets breathed a sigh of relief after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson left intensive care following his hospitalisation for COVID-19 symptoms.

Currencies from oil-producing countries also held onto gains against the US currency, but the outlook remains uncertain due to doubts that a deal between OPEC and its allies for a record oil supply cut would be enough to offset the collapse in global fuel demand.

Risk sentiment has steadily improved this week on tentative signs that the pandemic is slowing in US and European hotspots, but some analysts remain cautious given so little is known about the virus and as many nations continue to grapple with the massive economic damage caused by the outbreak.

"The Fed has taken a lot of different measures, but the end result is a large increase in the supply of dollars," said Junichi Ishikawa, senior FX strategist at IG Securities in Tokyo.

"Positive news about the virus reduces the kind of panicked repatriation into dollars that we saw earlier this year. The end result is gradual dollar weakness."

Against the euro, the dollar last stood at $1.0941, on course for 1.3% weekly decline.

The dollar traded at 0.9657 Swiss franc, down 1.1% for the week.

Trading was largely subdued in Asian hours as financial markets in Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Britain, and the United States are closed for the Good Friday holiday.

The Fed on Thursday announced a $2.3 trillion programme to offer loans to local governments and small and mid-sized businesses, the latest step to backstop the US economy as the country battles the coronavirus crisis.

The greenback last traded at 108.41 yen, unchanged for the week as concern about an increase in coronavirus infections and the declaration of a state of emergency in Japan offset dollar selling.

On the Chinese mainland, the yuan headed for a 0.8% weekly gain against the dollar as China continues to report a decline in new coronavirus cases. The Australian dollar, which is highly sensitive to risk sentiment because of Australia's dependence on China and the global commodities trade, jumped by 6% against the greenback this week, highlighting easing stress in global markets.

The pound held steady at $1.2465 on Friday, and headed for a 1.6% gain this week. Against the euro, sterling was on course for its third consecutive weekly gain.

The Canadian dollar, the Norwegian crown, and the Russian ruble were all higher against the dollar for the week, but further gains are in doubt.