- Hopes for Brexit deal buoy euro, sterling
- Higher U.S. yields fail to boost greenback
- Norwegian crown the big riser after inflation data
- Graphic: World FX rates in 2018 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
(Updates market action, changes dateline, previous LONDON)
The euro and sterling rose on Wednesday, underpinned by optimism for a Brexit deal, while the dollar lost ground against a basket of currencies even as U.S. bond yields hovered at multiyear peaks.
The common currency's gains were limited by worries about the sustainability of Italy's public finances, though Italian Economy Minister Giovanni Tria reiterated on Wednesday that the government would do everything in its power to regain the confidence of financial markets.
"There is more optimism that they will find some agreement between Britain and (the) European Union before Brexit," said Steve Englander, global head of G10 FX research at Standard Chartered Bank in New York.
This week, Brexit negotiators have hinted progress toward terms for Britain to leave the economic bloc in March, which gave investors hope for an orderly departure. Still, caution persists due to scant details.
On Wednesday, EU's Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, said the two parties have agreed on much of the withdrawal agreement ahead of a summit of all the bloc's 28 national leaders next week.
The pound reached a two-week high at $1.3210 Wednesday and held a gain of 0.46 percent on the day. It hit its strongest level against the euro since June 15 at 87.23 pence.
The euro rose 0.34 percent to $1.15315 and 0.17 percent to 130.035 yen.
The bounce in the two currencies offset an increase in U.S. Treasury yields, putting pressure on the dollar.
Benchmark 10-year yield US10YT=RR retreated from a seven-year high of 3.261 percent set on Tuesday, even as investors reduced their bond holdings in advance of $36 billion 3-year and $23 billion 10-year note auctions later Wednesday.
U.S. yields have increased on rising government debt supply and worries about higher inflation, which may push the Federal Reserve to raise short-term rates more quickly.
The ICE dollar index .DXY , which tracks the greenback against six major currencies, fell 0.24 percent on the day to 95.437. It hit a seven-week high on Tuesday at 96.155.
Among other major currencies, the Norwegian crown gained 0.83 percent against the dollar NOK= to 8.1970 crowns, and rose 0.51 percent versus the euro to 9.4522 crowns, after Norway's inflation rate rose more than expected in September
. ======================================================== Currency bid prices at 10:55AM (1455 GMT)Description RIC Last U.S. Close Pct Change YTD Pct High Bid Low Bid Previous Change Session Euro/Dollar EUR= $1.1530 $1.1489 +0.36% -3.88% +1.1534 +1.1480 Dollar/Yen JPY= 112.7600 112.9400 -0.16% +0.08% +113.2800 +112.7500 Euro/Yen EURJPY= 130.02 129.78 +0.18% -3.82% +130.4900 +129.8000 Dollar/Swiss CHF= 0.9900 0.9917 -0.17% +1.61% +0.9933 +0.9897 Sterling/Dollar GBP= 1.3203 1.3142 +0.46% -2.29% +1.3209 +1.3136 Dollar/Canadian CAD= 1.2974 1.2945 +0.22% +3.16% +1.2986 +1.2926 Australian/Doll AUD= 0.7099 0.7102 -0.04% -9.00% +0.7130 +0.7088 arEuro/Swiss EURCHF= 1.1414 1.1396 +0.16% -2.35% +1.1436 +1.1391 Euro/Sterling EURGBP= 0.8729 0.8741 -0.14% -1.73% +0.8754 +0.8724 NZ Dollar/Dolar NZD= 0.6476 0.6472 +0.06% -8.61% +0.6496 +0.6455 Dollar/Norway NOK= 8.1963 8.2656 -0.84% -0.13% +8.2685 +8.1913 Euro/Norway EURNOK= 9.4522 9.5005 -0.51% -4.02% +9.5096 +9.4400 Dollar/Sweden SEK= 9.1011 9.1036 +0.30% +10.97% +9.1192 +9.0789 Euro/Sweden EURSEK= 10.4944 10.4628 +0.30% +6.66% +10.5090 +10.4365
