* Dollar index rises, yen falls against dollar
* Euro, Aussie and Kiwi decline against greenback
* Graphic: World FX rates in 2020 https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E
(Updates prices, adds commentary)
By Sinéad Carew
NEW YORK, Sept 25 (Reuters) - The dollar gained ground on Friday and measured its biggest weekly gain
since early April as investors worried about a slowing economic recovery, rising coronavirus infections in
Europe, uncertainty about U.S. stimulus, and the upcoming elections here.
While orders for key U.S. capital goods increased more than expected in August, orders for durable
goods - ranging from toasters to aircraft that are meant to last three years or more - rose 0.4% in August
after jumping 11.7% in July. With so much for investors to feel uncertain about, JB Mackenzie, Managing director of futures and
forex at TD Ameritrade sees increasing volatility ahead of the Nov. 3 U.S. elections and as a result, more
demand for the dollar.
"The election and stimulus and the continued economic recovery, those three parts, if those are not
working lock step, there very well could be a movement to the dollar as that flight to safety trade," said
Mackenzie.
Mackenzie is also looking at factors such as Britain's struggle to come up with a plan to exit the
European Union as an overseas factor that could also keep the dollar strong.
While the greenback fell slightly on Thursday, after four days of gains, as equities rose on hopes for
stimulus, the U.S. currency's rally resumed on Friday as worries resurfaced.
"Yesterday was a calmer more positive sentiment ... then this morning's durable goods show that the
pace of growth in the United States is very uneven," said Juan Perez, senior currency trader and
strategist at Tempus Inc.
Along with weaker U.S. and overseas economic data and expectations, Perez said dollar demand was also
boosted by Washington's failure to create a stimulus package and concerns ahead of the U.S. election.
Top Republicans on Thursday repudiated President Donald Trump's refusal to commit to a peaceful
transfer of power after Trump, also a Republican, said Wednesday that he expects the election result to
end up being settled by the Supreme Court. "In times like that when the chaos and havoc and blurriness of the future is so intense and so dense,
that's when the dollar is going to rise once again," said Perez. "Markets are always going to be afraid
when a strong government does not give clarity about continuance, about stability."
The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of major currencies, was last up 0.31%
at 94.601 =USD and was on track for its best weekly percentage gain since the week early April.
With five straight days of gains against Japan's yen JPY=EBS , the greenback showed its strongest
weekly gain versus the yen since early June. For the day, the yen was lower against the dollar at 105.60.
The euro had its largest weekly fall against the dollar since early April. The dollar, in a six-day
rally against the Swiss Franc, showed its biggest weekly rise also since early April against that
currency.
For the day the euro was down 0.40% at $1.1627, after hitting a roughly two-month lows EUR=EBS .
Riskier currencies fell, with Australian dollar lower 0.28% on the day and down around 3.6% for the
week in its biggest weekly decline since the week ending March 20 AUD=D3 . The New Zealand dollar
declined 0.08% against the greenback NZD= for the day but showing its biggest weekly dip since the week
ending May 15.
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Currency bid prices at 3:04PM (1904 GMT)
Description RIC Last U.S. Close Pct Change YTD Pct High Bid Low Bid
Previous Change
Session
Euro/Dollar EUR= $1.1627 $1.1672 -0.39% +3.72% +1.1684 +1.1613
Dollar/Yen JPY= 105.6000 105.4000 +0.19% -2.99% +105.6900 +105.2500
Euro/Yen EURJPY= 122.79 123.00 -0.17% +0.69% +123.1500 +122.6200
Dollar/Swiss CHF= 0.9285 0.9266 +0.21% -4.06% +0.9296 +0.9251
Sterling/Dollar GBP= 1.2730 1.2749 -0.15% -3.99% +1.2804 +1.2688
Dollar/Canadian CAD= 1.3392 1.3362 +0.22% +3.13% +1.3418 +1.3338
Australian/Doll AUD= 0.7025 0.7045 -0.28% +0.06% +0.7086 +0.7007
ar
Euro/Swiss EURCHF= 1.0799 1.0813 -0.13% -0.49% +1.0821 +1.0792
Euro/Sterling EURGBP= 0.9131 0.9149 -0.20% +8.01% +0.9168 +0.9120
NZ NZD= 0.6545 0.6550 -0.08% -2.84% +0.6591 +0.6529
Dollar/Dollar
Dollar/Norway NOK= 9.5780 9.4967 +0.86% +9.11% +9.6151 +9.4833
Euro/Norway EURNOK= 11.1392 11.0858 +0.48% +13.23% +11.1858 +11.0679
Dollar/Sweden SEK= 9.1263 9.0828 -0.07% -2.37% +9.1645 +9.0858
Euro/Sweden EURSEK= 10.6125 10.6195 -0.07% +1.37% +10.6635 +10.5930
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USD https://tmsnrt.rs/33WMCUp
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