FOREX-Dollar holds firm before payrolls, virus fears undermine yuan

* Graphic: World FX rates in 2020 https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E
* Dollar stands tall before NFP report
* Traders closely watching China virus fallout
* Safe-havens head for weekly decline

By Stanley White
TOKYO, Feb 7 (Reuters) - The dollar held near a two-week
high versus the yen on Friday on upbeat U.S. economic data ahead
of a key jobs report, while the yuan eased and financial markets
remained on tenterhooks as the death toll from a new coronavirus
in China jumped yet again.
Sterling traded near a six-week low against the greenback
and nursed losses against the euro, dogged by persistent worries
about negotiations between Britain and the European union for a
post-Brexit trade deal.
Recent upbeat U.S. economic data and China's stimulus steps
gave traders some respite from heightened concerns about the new
virus, though the uncertainty about the impact of the epidemic
on global growth looks set to keep most investors risk-averse -
at least in the short run.
"There is a perception that the U.S. economy will be less
affected by the virus than China or other countries, so that is
a factor for dollar strength," said Masafumi Yamamoto, chief
currency strategist at Mizuho Securities in Tokyo.
"Risk-off trades could take a break because we won't know
the true state of China's economy until we see data for
February. There could be some big declines in the numbers for
China and other Asian countries."
The dollar traded at 109.92 yen JPY=EBS on Friday in Asia,
just below a two-week high hit earlier. For the week, the dollar
was on course for a 1.5% increase versus the yen, which would be
its biggest weekly gain since July 2018.
In the onshore market, the yuan CNY=CFXS fell 0.1% to
6.9787 per dollar. For the week, it was off 0.6% as Chinese
financial markets took a battering after resuming trade on
Monday following an extended Lunar New Year holiday.
In contrast, the offshore yuan was on course for a 0.3% gain
this week, supported by central bank stimulus and Thursday's
surprise Chinese announcement of tariff cuts on U.S. imports.
For now, the focus has shifted to the closely-watched U.S.
nonfarm payrolls report due later on Friday, which is forecast
to show job creation accelerated in January.
The mood for the dollar improved on Thursday after
unemployment benefits dropped to a nine-month low and worker
productivity rose. Data earlier this week showing a rebound in U.S.
manufacturing had also boosted the dollar's fortunes.
The U.S. optimism contrasts starkly with the jitters in Asia
as investors count the human toll of the virus and try to
measure how travel restrictions and business closures will
impact activity in the world's second-largest economy.
The yen and the Swiss franc, two currencies sought as
safe-havens, initially gained as the coronavirus epidemic
unfolded last month, but both currencies reversed course this
week.
Against the dollar, the Swiss franc CHF=EBS traded at
0.9745, headed for its biggest weekly decline since August 2019.
Sterling found itself on the backfoot as concerns about
Britain's relationship with the EU following its exit from the
bloc returned.
Investors are nervous that British Prime Minister Boris
Johnson is taking a hard line in trade talks with the EU, which
need to conclude before the end of the year to avoid a
potentially disruptive break in trading relations.
The pound GBP=D3 was little changed at $1.2937, close to
the lowest since Dec. 25 and down 2% for the week.
Sterling EURGBP=D3 traded at 84.88 pence per euro, on
course for a 1% weekly decline.
The Australian dollar AUD=D3 fell 0.2% to $0.6717 after
the Reserve Bank of Australia slashed growth forecasts in its
quarterly economic outlook due to bushfires and the coronavirus.
The Aussie was still on course for its first weekly gain in
six weeks, supported by the RBA earlier in the week raising the
hurdle to further rate cuts.