FOREX-Dollar steadies as traders wary about U.S. stocks, look to ECB for catalysts

* Graphic: World FX rates in 2020 https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E

By Eimi Yamamitsu
TOKYO, Sept 7 (Reuters) - The dollar steadied in
holiday-thinned trade on Monday after U.S. jobs data showed job
growth slowed further in August, while traders shifted their
focus to the European Central Bank's meeting on Thursday.
The U.S. Labour Department report on Friday showed that U.S.
employment growth slowed and permanent job losses increased as
government funding started running out, raising doubts on the
sustainability of the economy's recovery. Still, the jobless
rate fell to 8.4% from 10.2% in July. In the immediate aftermath, the greenback rallied to its
highest in a week at 93.242 against a basket of six major
currencies on safe-haven buying, but later retraced its gains as
U.S. stock indexes recovered.
"The jobs data which showed a decline in the unemployment
rate, and a rise in U.S. Treasury yields, are supporting the
dollar today," said Masafumi Yamamito, chief currency strategist
at Mizuho Securities.
"However, what's weighing on the currency is a huge drop in
U.S. stocks (last week)."
The S&P 500 fell 2.3% last week after five consecutive weeks
of gains. .N
The dollar index =USD was little changed on Monday at
92.895. Foreign exchange trading was likely to be subdued as
U.S. financial markets are closed for the Labour Day holiday.
Broader sentiment on the dollar remains weak after Federal
Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reiterated on Friday that the
central bank plans to keep U.S. rates lower for longer.
"We think that the economy's going to need low interest
rates, which support economic activity, for an extended period
of time ... it will be measured in years," Powell said.
Analysts said a sharp decline in U.S. stocks last week also
prompted some traders to adjust their positions on the dollar.
"When stocks become unstable, the yen appreciates. What
happens as a result is that a stronger dollar and yen bump into
each other, meaning other currencies could weaken," said Minori
Uchida, chief currency analyst at MUFG Bank.
The focus this week will be on European Central Bank's
policy decision on Thursday. Most analysts don't expect a change
in policy stance but are focusing on the message the ECB will
deliver on its inflation forecasts.
The ECB meeting comes after the euro marked a two-year high
at the beginning of the month.
The common currency, however, quickly retraced after
executive board member Philip Lane said last week that the
appreciation of the euro "does matter" for monetary policy,
highlighting the potential for further easing from the bank.
The euro EUR=EBS stood at $1.1834 on Monday.
The British pound GBP=D3 fell 0.34% to $1.3235, retreating
from its highest level in almost a year on fears over a no-deal
Brexit.
Amid an EU-UK trade negotiations impasse, the chances of a
no-deal Brexit have risen sharply as negotiations have been
threatened by Britain's insistence that it have full autonomy
over its state aid plans. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's office released comments
on Monday that Britain has set a deadline of Oct. 15, and if
none of the free-trade deal is agreed, both sides should
"accept that and move on." Against the yen JPY=EBS , the dollar traded at 106.28.
On the data front, the United States has producer prices on
Wednesday and consumer price data on Friday, while China's
consumer prices will be released on Wednesday.
The yuan CNH=EBS was little changed in offshore trade and
last fetched 6.8312 per dollar after customs data on Monday
indicated that the country's exports marked the strongest gain
since March 2019, while imports slumped. Elsewhere, the Canadian dollar CAD=D3 changed hands at
C$1.3086. The Bank of Canada is also due to make an interest
rate announcement on Wednesday.