* Dollar gains after days of losses this week
* Bitcoin falls, but set for 20% weekly rise
* Traders reassess pace of U.S. recovery on weak jobs data
* Euro, commodity currencies tick lower
* Graphic: World FX rates https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E
(Recasts, adds new comment, updates prices, changes byline,
dateline; previous LONDON)
By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss
NEW YORK, Feb 12 (Reuters) - The dollar gained on Friday
after several days of losses this week, as risk appetite soured
with stocks and some commodity prices lower, while investors
also consolidated gains made on other currencies ahead of a long
weekend in U.S. markets.
Financial markets are closed on Monday for President's Day.
"We're seeing the consolidation that we expected earlier in
the week," said Erik Bregar, head of FX strategy, at Exchange
Bank of Canada in Toronto. "Risk sentiment is still the
predominant driver of the dollar right now."
Bitcoin BTC=BTSP , meanwhile, was down 2.2% on the day at
$46,909, after hitting a record high of $49,000. It was on track
for gains of roughly 20% in a milestone week marked by the
endorsement of major firms such as Elon Musk's Tesla TSLA.O .
The world's most popular cryptocurrency hit a record high
overnight after U.S. banking group BNY Mellon BK.N said it had
formed a unit to help clients hold, transfer and issue digital
assets.
"There is clearly some nervousness around this level," OANDA
analyst Craig Erlam told his clients, citing fears that a
correction could hit soon after the $50,000 landmark is reached.
In mid-morning trading, the dollar index =USD rose 0.2% to
90.621 after subdued volumes in Asia because of the Lunar New
Year.
It was, however, on track to fall 0.5% for the week - its
first losing week in three - in what ING analysts described as a
"consolidative mood" amid uncertainty about the pace of the U.S.
economic recovery.
Weaker-than-expected weekly U.S. jobless claims data on
Thursday added to concerns the dollar's previous rally had
priced in too fast a rebound for the U.S. economy. The dollar was up 0.3% against the yen at 105.04 JPY=EBS .
There has been a divergence in views among traders this year
over how U.S. President Joe Biden's planned $1.9 trillion fiscal
stimulus package will affect the dollar.
Some see it as bolstering the currency as it should speed a
U.S. recovery relative to other countries, while others reckon
it would feed a global reflation narrative that should lift
riskier assets at the dollar's expense.
The euro EUR=EBS fell 0.3% to $1.2091.
The British pound was little changed at $1.3822 against the
dollar but was steady against the euro after data showed
Britain's economy suffered a record slump in 2020 but grew in
the final quarter.
The Australian AUD=D3 , New Zealand NZD=D3 , and Canadian
dollars CAD=D3 all fell against the greenback as risk appetite
ebbed.
========================================================
Currency bid prices at 10:20 AM (1520 GMT)
Description RIC Last U.S. Close Pct Change YTD Pct High Bid Low Bid
Previous Change
Session
Dollar index =USD 90.6230 90.4120 +0.25% 0.713% +90.7410 +90.3960
Euro/Dollar EUR=EBS $1.2094 $1.2133 -0.32% -1.01% +$1.2135 +$1.2082
Dollar/Yen JPY=D3 105.0450 104.7300 +0.30% +1.70% +105.1750 +104.7850
Euro/Yen EURJPY= 127.04 127.05 -0.01% +0.09% +127.3200 +126.9900
Dollar/Swiss CHF=EBS 0.8931 0.8898 +0.39% +0.97% +0.8940 +0.8901
Sterling/Dollar GBP=D3 $1.3818 $1.3816 +0.02% +1.15% +$1.3828 +$1.3776
Dollar/Canadian CAD=D3 1.2731 1.2703 +0.23% -0.02% +1.2762 +1.2695
Aussie/Dollar AUD=D3 $0.7736 $0.7755 -0.24% +0.57% +$0.7756 +$0.7719
Euro/Swiss EURCHF= 1.0799 1.0794 +0.05% -0.07% +1.0808 +1.0788
Euro/Sterling EURGBP= 0.8750 0.8778 -0.32% -2.09% +0.8792 +0.8745
NZ NZD=D3 $0.7194 $0.7227 -0.46% +0.18% +$0.7232 +$0.7178
Dollar/Dollar
Dollar/Norway NOK=D3 8.4935 8.4790 +0.19% -1.07% +8.5140 +8.4770
Euro/Norway EURNOK= 10.2730 10.2840 -0.11% -1.85% +10.3140 +10.2720
Dollar/Sweden SEK= 8.3325 8.3238 -0.08% +1.67% +8.3462 +8.3177
Euro/Sweden EURSEK= 10.0790 10.0871 -0.08% +0.03% +10.1137 +10.0740
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