FOREX-Euro steady ahead of Fed, ECB meetings and expected US tariffs

* German ZEW survey could turn euro-positive
* Dollar trades flat against most major currencies
* Graphic: World FX rates in 2019 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh

By Olga Cotaga
LONDON, Dec 10 (Reuters) - The euro was little changed
versus the dollar on Tuesday as investors were wary of a looming
deadline for U.S. tariffs on China, the British election and
upcoming Federal Reserve and European Central Bank meetings.
The greenback was neutral against a basket of six other
major currencies.
This is "reflecting limited anticipation for a change from
both the Fed and ECB meetings this week as well as uncertainty
about the Dec. 16 tariff deadline," said ING analysts in a note
to clients.
Front of mind is whether Washington will go ahead with a new
round of tariffs on Sunday, or whether a deal with China can be
reached before then.
White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said on Friday
that the Dec. 15 deadline is still in place, but Agriculture
Secretary Sonny Perdue on Monday raised the possibility the
tariffs are not imposed. Against the euro, the dollar was last flat at $1.1072
EUR=EBS , and against the Japanese yen JPY= the greenback
found support after last week's declines, steadying at 108.62
yen. The dollar was also steady against a basket of currencies
at 97.605 .DXY .
The Chinese yuan -- the most sensitive currency to the U.S.
and China trade war -- was also trading neutral against the U.S.
dollar in the offshore market, last at 7.0370 CNH=EBS .
Soaring inflation in China, ahead even of lofty
expectations, had little effect on a market waiting for trade
news. Kit Juckes, macro strategist at Societe Generale, called
markets "dull".
Traders will be watching the German ZEW survey due at 1000
GMT. Economists polled by Reuters are expecting that the
situation has improved a bit, with the economic sentiment
expected at 0 and the current conditions expected at -22.3 for
December, compared with -2.1 and -24.7 respectively in November.
Marshall Gittler, strategist at ACLS Global, said the
numbers should be "positive" for the euro.
Investors are almost certain the Fed will hold rates steady
when its two-day meeting concludes on Wednesday, increasing
investors' focus on the outlook and on finding a trade-war
truce. FEDWATCH
The ECB is likewise expected to keep interest rates steady.
ECBWATCH
Elsewhere, the pound maintained its recent gains, last at
$1.3140 GBP=D3 and 84.26 pence against the euro EURGBP=D3 ,
with market participants still viewing a Conservative Party
majority win as the most likely outcome of the general election
on Thursday.