Dollar holds gains as investors assess damage from Chinese virus

• The dollar index was last up 0.1pc at 98.089, while the euro was down 0.2pc versus the U.S. currency at $1.1002.
• ING analysts said that with the market already pricing in another 25 basis point rate cut from the Fed in 2020.
• The yen, which jumped earlier this week as investors bought into a currency considered a safe store of value in times of stress.

LONDON: The dollar held near two-month highs on Wednesday and other currencies seen as safe havens stabilised as investors regained their composure after an outbreak of coronavirus in China, awaiting more news on possible economic damage.

The dollar's strong showing this week, helped by the relatively positive performance of the U.S. economy, has underlined its safe-haven credentials.

The dollar index was last up 0.1pc at 98.089, while the euro was down 0.2pc versus the U.S. currency at $1.1002, not far from its weakest since early Nov. 29.

The greenback is now up 1.8pc against a basket of major currencies so far in 2020, ahead of a Federal Reserve meeting later on Wednesday.

The Fed is not expected to change interest rates when it gives its decision at 1900 GMT, but investors will want to hear whether chairman Jerome Powell retains his cautiously upbeat language.

ING analysts said that with the market already pricing in another 25 basis point rate cut from the Fed in 2020, the U.S. currency looked like it would hold recent gains.

"With dovish pricing already in place, the bar for a dollar decline vs low yielding currencies such as JPY or EUR remains high," they wrote in a research note.

The yen, which jumped earlier this week as investors bought into a currency considered a safe store of value in times of stress, traded at 109.10 yen per dollar, up marginally on the day.

The Swiss franc rallied 0.1pc to 1.0713 francs per euro  but was some way off Tuesday's high of 1.0666.

"The dollar is the outperformer and illustrates in an impressive manner who is the ultimate safe haven in the FX universe - regardless of whether that is justified or not," Commerzbank analyst Antje Praefcke said.

The newly identified coronavirus has created alarm because it is spreading quickly and there is little known about it. The death toll rose sharply to 132 on Wednesday, with nearly 1,500 new cases identified for a total of nearly 6,000.

But there was evidence that investors were becoming more relaxed.

The offshore yuan - heavily sold in recent days - was marginally stronger at 6.9605 per dollar, off Monday's 6.9900, its weakest in almost a month.

Sterling fell 0.1pc to $1.3020 ahead of a Bank of England meeting on Thursday. Investors are divided as to whether it will cut rates.

Australia's dollar cemented its rebound from 3-1/2 month lows after firmer-than-expected inflation data. The Aussie was last unchanged on the day at $0.6761.