FOREX-Dollar falls against the yen on political uncertainties

* Dollar index up 0.09% , dollar-yen below key 105 level
* Kiwi dollar gains after positive economic comments
* Graphic: World FX rates in 2020 https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E

(Updates prices, adds comment, changes byline, previous
dateline LONDON)
By Sinéad Carew
NEW YORK, Sept 18 (Reuters) - The dollar was on track for
its fifth straight day of declines against the yen, which was at
a seven-week high against the greenback on Friday as investors
sought Japan's safe-haven currency due to monetary policy, U.S.
election uncertainty and the latest U.S.-China political
tensions.
The dollar, after falling to 104.270 yen earlier in the
session - its lowest level against Japan's currency since July
31 - last traded at 104.38, down 0.33% on the day JPY=EBS .
While the dollar =USD was up against a basket of currencies it
was on track for a weekly decline after two weeks of gains.
Aside from political uncertainty Boris Schlossberg, managing
director of FX strategy at BK Asset Management said Japan's
policy of yield curve control was also a factor as it was
pushing up real interest rates.
"Japanese market conditions are much tighter than they
seemingly appear despite QE from the Bank of Japan," said
Schlossberg. "That's creating a distinct and significant tilt
toward the yen."
While U.S. equities have kept close to their record highs,
Schlossberg said dollar weakness may signal more volatility to
come ahead of the Nov. 3 U.S. elections where President Donald
Trump with face-off with Democrat challenger Joe Biden.
"Markets always hate uncertainty. At this point everybody is
convinced that an unambiguous win is not the most likely
scenario," he said.
Schlossberg also pointed to a Trump administration plan to
ban WeChat and video-sharing app TikTok from U.S. app stores
starting Sunday night, blocking Americans from the Chinese-owned
platforms over national security concerns. "It's showing the diplomatic tug of war is not being
resolved. The tensions are heightening rather than easing," he
said. "That's not something the market likes to see."
At its meeting, the Bank of Japan maintained its minus 0.1%
short-term interest rate target and a pledge to cap 10-year bond
yields around zero, as widely expected. Tokyo markets will be closed on Monday and Tuesday next
week, so investors positioning for thin liquidity could also
have played a role in Friday's yen move.
The New Zealand dollar NZD=D3 strengthened overnight and
hit its highest in a year and a half in early London trading,
after the country's finance minister sounded positive about the
economy in television interviews. The Reserve Bank of New
Zealand meets next week. The Australian dollar was down slightly versus the U.S.
dollar, at $0.7298 AUD=D3 . The euro fell slightly, to $1.1833,
and was set for a small weekly loss EUR=EBS .
While strong British consumer spending helped sterling
earlier in the day as investors bet on a solid recovery from
COVID-19 induced lockdowns but it failed to hold its gains and
was last down 0.25% against at $1.2940 GBP=D3 . "The market would be a lot more excited about this news if
it felt the UK was well on its way toward recovery. But now with
a huge resurgence in infections, there's a serious threat of a
secondary lockdown which could bring this recovery to a grinding
halt," said BK's Schlossberg.
The currency fell sharply on Thursday when the Bank of
England said monetary policymakers had been briefed on how to
implement negative rates, but recovered later in the session.
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Currency bid prices at 10:10AM (1410 GMT)
Description RIC Last U.S. Close Pct Change YTD Pct High Bid Low Bid
Previous Change
Session
Euro/Dollar EUR= $1.1833 $1.1847 -0.12% +5.56% +1.1869 +1.1828
Dollar/Yen JPY= 104.3800 104.7300 -0.33% -4.12% +104.8600 +104.2800
Euro/Yen EURJPY= 123.53 124.09 -0.45% +1.30% +124.3000 +123.4400
Dollar/Swiss CHF= 0.9106 0.9083 +0.25% -5.91% +0.9112 +0.9076
Sterling/Dollar GBP= 1.2940 1.2972 -0.25% -2.42% +1.2999 +1.2933
Dollar/Canadian CAD= 1.3180 1.3164 +0.12% +1.49% +1.3201 +1.3137
Australian/Doll AUD= 0.7298 0.7312 -0.19% +3.95% +0.7333 +0.7284
ar
Euro/Swiss EURCHF= 1.0778 1.0760 +0.17% -0.68% +1.0780 +1.0758
Euro/Sterling EURGBP= 0.9144 0.9130 +0.15% +8.16% +0.9152 +0.9116
NZ NZD= 0.6770 0.6754 +0.24% +0.50% +0.6797 +0.6748
Dollar/Dollar
Dollar/Norway NOK= 9.0753 9.0478 +0.30% +3.38% +9.0947 +9.0170
Euro/Norway EURNOK= 10.7410 10.7210 +0.19% +9.18% +10.7623 +10.6937
Dollar/Sweden SEK= 8.7799 8.7648 -0.05% -6.07% +8.7934 +8.7600
Euro/Sweden EURSEK= 10.3914 10.3963 -0.05% -0.74% +10.4143 +10.3882