* Stock markets hit record highs as risk sentiment improves
* Optimism grows that coronavirus will be contained
* New Zealand dollar jumps as rate cut no longer projected
(New throughout, updates prices, market activity and comments
to U.S. market open, new byline, changes dateline, previous
LONDON)
By Karen Brettell
NEW YORK, Feb 12 (Reuters) - The greenback gained on
Wednesday, but held just below four-month highs reached a day
earlier against the euro, as investors put more money into U.S.
stock markets on greater optimism that the coronavirus will be
contained.
China reported its lowest number of new coronavirus cases in
nearly two weeks, lending weight to a forecast by its foremost
medical adviser for the outbreak to end by April - but a global
expert warned it was only beginning elsewhere. “The market is reasonably confident that China will be able
to get control of the virus, although it may take some time,”
said Steve Englander, head of global G10 FX research at Standard
Chartered in New York. “The fact that it just doesn't seem to be
as deadly outside of China is something that's comforting
markets.”
Wall Street opened at a record high. .N Investors grew
more comfortable with risk, especially on the view that central
banks are likely to provide more accommodation if the
coronavirus harms the global economy.
On Tuesday, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told
Congress the U.S. economy is in a good place, even as he cited
the potential threat from the coronavirus in China and some
long-term concerns. The dollar gained 0.21% against the Japanese yen JPY= to
110 yen.
The euro dipped 0.05% against the greenback to $1.0909. It
fell to $1.0889 on Tuesday, the lowest since Oct. 1.
The greenback has benefited against the euro as economic
data shows a brighter economic outlook for the United States
than for the euro zone.
"The U.S. economic data is still superior to other
economies' and the growth gap with the rest of the world remains
substantial," said Ugo Lancioni, portfolio manager of the
Neuberger Berman Macro Opportunities FX Fund.
The New Zealand dollar NZD= jumped to a one-week high
after the central bank removed the chance of a rate cut from its
forward projections. NZD/
========================================================
Currency bid prices at 9:27AM (1427 GMT)
Description RIC Last U.S. Close Pct Change YTD Pct High Bid Low Bid
Previous Change
Session
Euro/Dollar EUR= $1.0909 $1.0914 -0.05% -2.69% +1.0925 +1.0900
Dollar/Yen JPY= 110.0000 109.7700 +0.21% +1.05% +110.1300 +109.7800
Euro/Yen EURJPY= 120.01 119.84 +0.14% -1.59% +120.2900 +119.7700
Dollar/Swiss CHF= 0.9756 0.9757 -0.01% +0.81% +0.9764 +0.9741
Sterling/Dollar GBP= 1.2969 1.2951 +0.14% -2.19% +1.2991 +1.2950
Dollar/Canadian CAD= 1.3263 1.3286 -0.17% +2.13% +1.3295 +1.3258
Australian/Doll AUD= 0.6741 0.6713 +0.42% -3.99% +0.6749 +0.6713
ar
Euro/Swiss EURCHF= 1.0643 1.0652 -0.08% -1.93% +1.0662 +1.0635
Euro/Sterling EURGBP= 0.8409 0.8425 -0.19% -0.53% +0.8432 +0.8401
NZ NZD= 0.6471 0.6401 +1.09% -3.93% +0.6487 +0.6402
Dollar/Dollar
Dollar/Norway NOK= 9.2036 9.2480 -0.48% +4.84% +9.2496 +9.1989
Euro/Norway EURNOK= 10.0404 10.0964 -0.55% +2.06% +10.1010 +10.0370
Dollar/Sweden SEK= 9.6253 9.6358 -0.19% +2.97% +9.6421 +9.6137
Euro/Sweden EURSEK= 10.5000 10.5200 -0.19% +0.29% +10.5217 +10.4900