FOREX-Euro steadies as dollar picks up gains on U.S., China trade deal optimism

* Canadian dollar neutral after rising to 3-month high
* Pound flat as traders await another vote in parliament
* Graphic: World FX rates in 2019 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh

By Olga Cotaga
LONDON, Oct 22 (Reuters) - The euro was steady on Tuesday
after rising to a two-month high in the previous session versus
the dollar as traders waited for the British parliament to vote
on the Withdrawal Agreement Bill as it will shine light on when
and how Britain will exit the EU.
The United Kingdom is expected to leave the European Union
on Oct. 31, but the deal Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his
European counterparts agreed last week has not been yet voted on
in the Britain's parliament, which forced Johnson to request an
extension to the leaving date from Brussels.
The bill is expected to be presented for a vote in
parliament around 1800 GMT.
The euro-dollar has been driven mostly by Brexit
developments of late, as well as by trade disputes between the
United States and China.
Hopes the United States and China were making progress to
resolve their trade dispute supported the dollar in the Asian
trading session.
China's Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng said progress was
being made in discussions with the United States and that while
both sides respected each other, no problem was beyond
resolution. That followed comments from U.S. President Donald Trump, who
said work toward ending the trade dispute was going well, while
White House adviser Larry Kudlow said tariffs scheduled for
December could be withdrawn if progress was made. The euro was flat at $1.1146 EUR=EBS after rising to a
two-month high against the dollar on Monday. Against a basket of
six major currencies, the greenback was neutral at 97.32 .DXY .
The Japanese yen was also flat at 108.575 JPY=EBS , not far
from the 1-1/2 month low it reached last week.
The traditional safe-haven currencies such as the yen, Swiss
franc, and to a lesser extent the U.S. dollar, have given back
gains this month as global investor risk sentiment improved on
the back of building optimism over U.S.-China trade and Brexit
deals.
"Until the recent improvement in risk sentiment is more
seriously challenged, safe haven currencies should remain on the
back foot in the near-term," MUFG analysts said in a note.
Elsewhere, the Canadian dollar CAD=D3 steadied after
jumping to a three-month high of 1.3071 against the U.S. dollar
with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau looking on track to retain
power in a close-run election. His ruling liberals will form a
minority government, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp projected,
as results rolled in. The Canadian dollar has been the best performing major
currency this year, rising by about 3.7% in the 10 months.
The pound awaited Brexit developments to determine its fate.
It was last trading flat at $1.2958, a whisker away from the
5 1/2 months high of $1.3012 it reached on Monday GBP=D3 .
MUFG analysts said for sterling to sustain gains above
$1.30, the government's Brexit deal will have to pass smoothly
in the week.