* Graphic: World FX rates in 2020 https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E
By Kevin Buckland
TOKYO, Dec 29 (Reuters) - The dollar languished near a
2-1/2-year low on Tuesday with demand for safe-havens flagging
as U.S. lawmakers pushed forward with a COVID-19 relief package.
The House of Representatives voted on Monday to increase
stimulus payments to qualified Americans to $2,000 from $600,
sending the measure on to the Senate for a vote. Last week's Brexit agreement, while bare bones, also
supported the outlook for global growth, lifting Asian stocks on
Tuesday following Wall Street gains.
"Optimism abounds, and it's generally coming from equity
markets," said Bart Wakabayashi, Tokyo Branch manager of State
Street Bank and Trust.
"The dollar is very heavy, and that will continue into next
year."
The dollar index was little changed at 90.194 =USD in
holiday-thinned trading, hovering near the 89.723 level reached
on Dec. 17 for the first time since April 2018.
Short positions on the dollar swelled in the week ended Dec.
21 to $26.6 billion, the highest in three months, according to
Reuters' calculations based on data released by the Commodity
Futures Trading Commission on Monday. The euro rose 0.1% to $1.22260 EUR=EBS early in the Asian
session, hovering near the 2-1/2-year high of 1.22735 touched
earlier this month.
The dollar bought 103.740 yen JPY=EBS , another haven
asset.
Sterling rose 0.1% to $1.3477 GBP= following a two-day
decline. It was as high as $1.3625 this month, a level not seen
since May 2018.
Investors have taken profits in the UK currency following
the confirmation last week of a Brexit trade deal that was
widely expected.
While the agreement came as a relief to investors, the pact
leaves Britain far more detached from the EU, analysts say.
"People are still trying to figure out what this Brexit
agreement means," weighing on the pound, said State Street's
Wakabayashi.
"Nothing has really been agreed on financial markets, and
that's a big negative for the UK."
Bitcoin slipped 0.8% to $26,841 BTC=BTSP , continuing its
retreat from the all-time high of $28,377.94 set Sunday.
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Currency bid prices at 11:24AM (224 GMT)
Description RIC Last U.S. Close Pct Change YTD Pct High Bid Low Bid
Previous Change
Session
Euro/Dollar EUR=EBS $1.2234 $1.2216 +0.15% +9.13% +1.2237 +1.2207
Dollar/Yen JPY=D3 103.7520 103.8250 -0.07% -4.48% +103.7920 +103.7300
Euro/Yen EURJPY= 126.98 126.77 +0.17% +4.12% +126.9800 +126.7100
Dollar/Swiss CHF=EBS 0.8876 0.8886 -0.06% -8.22% +0.8887 +0.8876
Sterling/Dollar GBP=D3 1.3469 1.3460 +0.09% +1.58% +1.3482 +1.3443
Dollar/Canadian CAD=D3 1.2832 1.2849 -0.08% -1.17% +1.2848 +1.2835
Aussie/Dollar AUD=D3 0.7590 0.7583 +0.15% +8.22% +0.7595 +0.7577
NZ NZD=D3 0.7117 0.7103 +0.21% +5.78% +0.7118 +0.7099
Dollar/Dollar
All spots FX=
Tokyo spots AFX=
Europe spots EFX=
Volatilities FXVOL=
Tokyo Forex market info from BOJ TKYFX