FOREX-Yuan soars, yen falls as U.S. drops China FX manipulator label

* Dollar rises above 110 yen for first time since May
* Yuan strengthens after U.S. FX manipulator label dropped
* Sterling hits seven-week low against euro
* Graphic: World FX rates in 2019 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh

By Yoruk Bahceli
LONDON, Jan 14 (Reuters) - The Japanese yen plumbed
eight-month lows while China's yuan climbed to its highest level
since July on Tuesday as the U.S. Treasury Department reversed
its decision in August to designate China as a currency
manipulator.
The announcement came as Chinese Vice Premier Liu He arrived
in Washington ahead of Wednesday's signing with U.S. President
Donald Trump of a preliminary trade agreement aimed at easing
tensions between the two countries. "Washington's decision to lift its designation of currency
manipulator on China has added to the positive mood that has
been already in place ahead of the signing of the trade deal,"
said Minori Uchida, chief currency strategist at MUFG Bank.
People familiar with the negotiations said that although the
manipulator designation had no real consequences for Beijing,
its removal was an important symbol of goodwill for Chinese
officials.
The dollar rose as much as 0.3% to 110.22 yen JPY=EBS , its
highest since late May against the safe-haven Japanese currency.
It last stood at 109.935 yen.
In onshore trade, the yuan strengthened to 6.8731 per dollar
CNY=CFXS , its strongest level since late July. It was last at
6.8842.
The offshore yuan also firmed to its strongest level in six
months, hitting 6.8662 yuan before easing CNH=EBS .
In addition to hopes of easing in the U.S.-China trade war,
solid China trade data helped to boost optimism about the
Chinese economy and the yuan.
Exports grew 7.6% and imports jumped 16.3% in December from
a year earlier, both handily beating expectations. "The interesting question is how long can this optimism
last, how much further can it go. A lot surely has to be in the
price," said Jane Foley, senior FX strategist at Rabobank.
"If we were to get another rise in tensions between the U.S.
and China and if we were to turn our attention to phase two [of
the trade deal]... it's very likely that we will see the
renminbi falling again," Rabobank's Foley said, adding that the
currency might face a low at the 7.18 level hit in September.
In Europe, sterling weakened further on Tuesday, hitting a
seven-week low against the euro at 85.95 pence. EURGBP=D3
The currency is generally under pressure with traders
focusing on uncertainty over what Britain's trade relationship
with the European Union will look like following its expected
departure on Jan. 31. A transition period is due to finish at
the end of 2020.
The currency has also come under pressure this week from
weak data releases, raising the chances of a cut to interest
rates by the Bank of England. Money markets forecast an almost
50% probability of a cut at a meeting on Jan. 30.
The euro was mildly supported by risk-on sentiment, off a
two-week low of $1.10855 EUR=EBS hit on Friday. It was last
trading at $1.11385.