* Pound extends gains as Brexit deal reached
* Dollar down as Brexit news overshadow stimulus uncertainty
* Graphic: World FX rates in 2020 https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E (Adds new comment, FX table, updates prices, changes byline, dateline; previous AMSTERDAM)
By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss
NEW YORK, Dec 24 (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar was mostly lower on Thursday, while sterling gained after Britain and the European Union struck a post-Brexit trade deal, boosting the market's appetite for risk and raising hopes the United Kingdom can avoid a turbulent economic departure at the end of the year.
Britain clinched a trade deal with the European Union on Thursday, just seven days before it exits one of the world's biggest trading blocs in its most significant global shift since the loss of empire.
"Deal is done," a Downing Street source said. "We have taken back control of our money, borders, laws, trade and our fishing waters." EU Commission will hold a press briefing on the trade agreement later on Thursday. mid-morning trading, the dollar index was slightly lower at 90.256 =USD . So far this year, the dollar has fallen 6.5%, its worst yearly performance since 2017.
Currency markets also seemed to have shrugged off President Donald Trump's criticism of the fiscal relief package earlier approved in Congress, which could put the bill in limbo.
Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday blocked attempts to alter a $2.3 trillion coronavirus aid and government spending package, leaving its status in doubt after Trump demanded extensive changes to the legislation. meanwhile, extended gains and rose as high as $1.3620. It was last up 0.7% at $1.3591, with potential to rise to a 2-1/2 year high above $1.3625. GBP=D3
The pound also rose to a three-week high against the euro at 89.54 pence. EURGBP=D3 and was last up 0.7% at 89.72 pence.
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Currency bid prices at 9:58AM (1458 GMT) Description
RIC
Last
U.S. Close Pct Change
YTD Pct
High Bid
Low Bid
Previous
Change
Session
Dollar index
=USD
90.2560
90.3020
-0.04%
+0.00%
+90.3390
+90.1510 Euro/Dollar
$1.2190
$1.2187
+0.03%
+8.74%
+$1.2216
+$1.2178 Dollar/Yen
103.6950
103.5400
+0.15%
-4.59%
+103.6950 +103.5000 Euro/Yen
EURJPY=
126.40
126.19
+0.17%
+3.64%
+126.4900 +126.1900 Dollar/Swiss
0.8909
0.8885
+0.29%
-7.92%
+0.8914
+0.8870 Sterling/Dollar GBP=D3
$1.3583
$1.3500
+0.62%
+2.42%
+$1.3618
+$1.3495 Dollar/Canadian CAD=D3
1.2825
1.2846
-0.15%
-1.26%
+1.2853
+1.2827 Aussie/Dollar
AUD=D3
$0.7602
$0.7579
+0.32%
+8.36%
+$0.7607
+$0.7571 Euro/Swiss
EURCHF=
1.0861
1.0819
+0.39%
+0.08%
+1.0861
+1.0824 Euro/Sterling
EURGBP=
0.8971
0.9029
-0.64%
+6.12%
+0.9035
+0.8954 NZ
NZD=D3
$0.7113
$0.7096
+0.24%
+5.71%
+$0.7117
+$0.7092 Dollar/Dollar
Dollar/Norway
NOK=D3
8.6235
8.6435
-0.04%
-1.50%
+8.6445
+8.6120 Euro/Norway
EURNOK=
10.5151
10.5390
-0.23%
+6.85%
+10.5420
+10.5014 Dollar/Sweden
8.2595
8.2725
-0.26%
-11.64%
+8.2934
+8.2598 Euro/Sweden
EURSEK=
10.0715
10.0982
-0.26%
-3.80%
+10.1090
+10.0724