* Aussie dollar down 0.6% as Melbourne enters lockdown
* Dollar index climbs 0.3%
* Yuan hugs 7 per dollar mark
* Graphic: World FX rates in 2019 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
By Ritvik Carvalho
LONDON, July 7 (Reuters) - Risk currencies such as the
Australian dollar took a breather from recent gains on Tuesday,
with investors hitting pause on an China-led equity market
rally, as new coronavirus flare-ups and local lockdowns in some
countries lifted the safe-haven dollar.
Riskier currencies such as the commodity-driven Aussie,
Norwegian crown, the New Zealand dollar and the Swedish crown
have rallied strongly since April alongside increased risk
appetite in global markets.
But with a blazing run-up led by Chinese equities cooling in
other stock markets on Tuesday, surging coronavirus infections
in places that are attempting a reopening, and regional
lockdowns still being introduced, investors appeared to take
their foot off the gas.
Lockdown measures were reimposed in Australia's second
biggest city on Tuesday, confining Melbourne residents to their
homes unless undertaking essential business for six weeks, as
officials scramble to contain a coronavirus outbreak.
The Australian dollar sank 0.65% to its U.S. counterpart
after the announcement, last trading at $0.6928. AUD=D3
It had no reaction to the country's central bank leaving
rates unchanged.
The dollar index, meanwhile, rose 0.3% to 97.009. =USD It
gained 0.3% against the Japanese yen, to trade at 107.71 JPY= .
The index, which measures the greenback against a basket of
currencies, breached a key technical indicator this week. Known
as a death cross, the chart formation occurs when a measure's
long-term 200-day moving average has fallen below its short-term
50-day moving average. It last occurred for the dollar index in
December 2019, following which it shed more than 3%.
Florida's greater Miami area became the latest hotspot to
roll back its reopening as virus cases surged nationwide by the
tens of thousands and the U.S. death toll topped 130,000.
"After yesterday's strong risk rally - which also drove
risky currencies higher - the reality of regional lockdowns in
places like the U.S., UK, Spain and now Australia are a gentle
reminder that the threat of a second coronavirus wave is one
that investors should not be quick to price out," said Viraj
Patel, global FX and macro strategist at Arkera.
Investors are watching nervously as infections surge in the
United States and India, but are so far taking the view that
more massive lockdowns are unlikely.
On Tuesday, the kiwi fell 0.4% to $0.6530 having, like the
Aussie, pulled back from testing the top of a range it has kept
for about a month. AUD/
The euro EUR= sat just below a two-week high touched on
Monday at $1.1275 and the pound GBP= held steady at $1.2491.
A key measure of the market's long-term inflation
expectations in the euro area EUIL5YF5Y=R has risen from
record lows hit in March and is close to its highest levels in
around 4 months.
"One implication of higher inflation expectations is a
further push higher in euro/dollar. The pair made it back above
$1.13 yesterday and we think it has further to go in the short
term," said strategists at Danske Bank in a note to clients,
adding that they saw the euro reaching $1.15 in 3 months.
CHINA BULL RUN
The Chinese yuan CNH=EBS picked up where it left off after
soaring with runaway Chinese equities on Monday, but pulled back
from an offshore top of 6.9965 per dollar as caution crept in.
"If the Chinese stock run extends in the coming days – and
barring major swings in global risk sentiment – investors will
get the chance to assess the PBOC's tolerance for a stronger
yuan," ING strategists wrote in a note to clients.
"It is also worth mentioning that the U.S. Treasury FX
report is still to be published and...we cannot exclude that
China can be labelled a manipulator again if tensions with the
U.S. flare up again (the PBOC allowing USD/CNY to move above
7.00 was the trigger for the 'manipulator' designation last
year)."
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Dollar death cross https://tmsnrt.rs/2BBUUqM
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