* Euro gains for 3rd straight day vs dollar
* Dollar index posts second week of gains
* ECB's Lane reiterates concerns about strong euro
* Sterling hits new 5-1/2-month low vs euro on Brexit fears
* Graphic: World FX rates in 2020 https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E
(Adds new comment, updates prices)
By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss
NEW YORK, Sept 11 (Reuters) - The euro rose for a third straight session against the dollar on Friday,
with investors encouraged to push it higher after the European Central Bank showed no sign of stemming the
single currency's appreciation.
At a press conference on Thursday, ECB President Christine Lagarde said the bank is not targeting
exchange rates. She also struck a less dovish tone on the euro zone economy, as the ECB lifted its growth
forecast for 2020.
After Lagarde's briefing, sources said policymakers had agreed to look through the euro's rise,
judging it was broadly in line with economic fundamentals. On Friday, however, ECB policymakers, including chief economist Philip Lane, warned against
complacency over low inflation and highlighted risks from a strong euro, nuancing the bank's benign
message from a day earlier. Since around mid-June, the euro has risen more than 6% versus the dollar.
"There is a feeling here that it's okay for the euro to be around $1.1750-$1.1850. If it hits $1.1950,
it probably starts swinging down," said Juan Perez, currency trader at Tempus Inc in Washington.
"Overall, ECB policymakers seem to be saying that let's not overreact about the euro exchange rate,"
he added.
In afternoon trading, the euro rose 0.2% to $1.1831 EUR=EBS , but posted a second straight week of
losses. It did reach a one-week high of $1.1917 on Thursday.
The dollar index =USD , which tracks the greenback against other major currencies, was flat to
slightly lower at 93.320. The index though showed a second week of gains.
The dollar was little changed against the yen at 106.10 yen JPY=EBS .
Friday's data showing a rise in U.S. consumer prices last month had little impact on the dollar. U.S.
consumer price index rose 0.4% last month, after gains of 0.6% in June and July. Overall, some analysts believe the dollar has scope for further gains as a safe haven amid still
heightened uncertainty related to the COVID vaccine and the global recovery from the virus-induced
downturn.
"We are concerned that the consensus may be too optimistic on the global economy; too optimistic on a
vaccine; too pessimistic on the COVID-19 situation in the U.S. compared with that in Europe; and
complacent on the U.S. elections," said BofA Securities in a research note.
Elsewhere, the pound slipped 0.1% against the dollar to $1.2794 GBP=D3 , and sank to a fresh
5-1/2-month low of 92.90 pence versus the euro EURGBP=D3 , adding more losses after the heaviest
sell-offs seen this year sent the pound falling nearly 2% against the euro on Thursday.
As the Brexit saga intensifies, sterling posted its worst weekly performance versus the dollar since
mid-March when forex markets were going through a coronavirus-induced turmoil.
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Currency bid prices at 2:59PM (1859 GMT)
Description RIC Last U.S. Close Pct Change YTD Pct High Bid Low Bid
Previous Change
Session
Euro/Dollar EUR= $1.1830 $1.1813 +0.14% +5.53% +1.1874 +1.1814
Dollar/Yen JPY= 106.1000 106.1300 -0.03% -2.54% +106.2600 +106.0700
Euro/Yen EURJPY= 125.55 125.37 +0.14% +2.94% +126.1200 +125.3900
Dollar/Swiss CHF= 0.9094 0.9104 -0.11% -6.03% +0.9108 +0.9080
Sterling/Dollar GBP= 1.2790 1.2803 -0.10% -3.54% +1.2864 +1.2765
Dollar/Canadian CAD= 1.3189 1.3190 -0.01% +1.56% +1.3207 +1.3151
Australian/Doll AUD= 0.7275 0.7256 +0.26% +3.58% +0.7305 +0.7252
ar
Euro/Swiss EURCHF= 1.0759 1.0758 +0.01% -0.86% +1.0788 +1.0754
Euro/Sterling EURGBP= 0.9247 0.9225 +0.24% +9.39% +0.9291 +0.9211
NZ NZD= 0.6659 0.6649 +0.15% -1.16% +0.6694 +0.6642
Dollar/Dollar
Dollar/Norway NOK= 9.0506 9.0729 -0.25% +3.10% +9.0768 +9.0035
Euro/Norway EURNOK= 10.7112 10.7200 -0.08% +8.86% +10.7335 +10.6684
Dollar/Sweden SEK= 8.7810 8.7598 +0.29% -6.05% +8.8003 +8.7302
Euro/Sweden EURSEK= 10.3907 10.3609 +0.29% -0.75% +10.4125 +10.3559
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