Euro rebounds to one-week high as stocks gain

London

THE euro rebounded to a one-week high on Tuesday as global stocks recovered from early losses with investors broadly in consolidation mode before the Nov 3 US presidential election.

Markets stayed within well-worn recent ranges as fading hopes for a US Covid-19 aid package combined with rising infections in Europe kept the overall mood cautious.

"Currency markets are in wait-and-watch mode with traders unwilling to take big bets before such a major event risk," said Lee Hardman, currency strategist at MUFG in London.

The euro rebounded 0.3 per cent to a one-week high at US$1.18065 after weakening 0.1 per cent to US$1.17600 in early London trading.

That reflected a broader recovery in European stock markets which popped into positive territory after registering some early losses. US stock futures were also up 0.6 per cent.

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While markets are confident a win by Democrat Joe Biden would lead to more fiscal stimulus, potentially weakening the US dollar, investors are also wary of a contested election result that might boost the safe-haven appeal of the greenback.

"As we approach US elections and with Covid-19 infections around the globe rising at a fast pace, investors may refrain from engaging into large trading positions," said Charalambos Pissouros, a senior market analyst at JFD Group.

France reported a massive jump in people hospitalised, and Ireland announced some of Europe's toughest restrictions.

Elsewhere, the Australian dollar dropped 0.4 per cent to US$0.7045, hitting a three-week low of US$0.7032 on increasing expectations of monetary easing next month by the central bank.

Minutes of the Reserve Bank of Australia's last policy meeting confirmed the board had discussed cutting rates and buying longer-dated debt as a means to support the economy and restrain the currency.

Sterling held on to small gains made the previous day at US$1.2941.

Britain's chief Brexit negotiator David Frost said there was no basis to resume trade talks with the European Union unless there was a fundamental change in Brussels' approach.

Elsewhere, the US dollar index dipped 0.2 per cent to 93.227 - on track for a second consecutive day of falls. REUTERS