* Brexit deal imminent, sterling surges
* Dollar dips despite Trump threat over stimulus package
* Euro hits $1.22, Aussie adds 0.7%
* Graphic: World FX rates in 2020 https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E (Adds new comment, U.S. data, FX table, updates prices, changes byline, dateline; previous LONDON)
By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss
NEW YORK, Dec 23 (Reuters) - The dollar struggled on Wednesday, after gaining for three straight sessions, as risk appetite grew on expectation of an imminent post-Brexit trade deal between the UK and the European Union.
Sterling and the euro took off against the greenback after the Brexit headlines, as did currencies tied to higher risk appetite such as the Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand dollars.
Reuters reported, citing sources, that EU states have started to prepare their procedure to put in place a new trade deal with the United Kingdom from Jan. 1, indicating a deal could be imminent. Treasury yields rose, in line with those in Europe and the UK.
In mid-morning trading, the dollar fell 0.3% to 90.16 =USD .
The dollar index has weakened more than 6% this year as investors bet the U.S. Federal Reserve will keep its policy ultra-easy. Expectations for further declines by the dollar are helping buoy stock markets and emerging-market currencies. have a lower uncertainty premium compared to March. The addition of the vaccines...has basically established what we have known since the summer which is a weaker dollar," said Mazen Issa, senior FX strategist, at TD Securities in New York.
But he said he would not be surprised if the dollar rallies into the new year simply because of technical and momentum indicators.
U.S. data was mixed on Wednesday, but had little currency impact.
Initial jobless claims unexpectedly fell last week, though remained elevated, and a separate report showed consumer spending fell last month for the first time since April. U.S. new home sales were disappointing as well. euro rose 0.4% to $1.2207 EUR=EBS . The single currency earlier this month hit its highest in more than two-and-a-half years.
Sterling extended gains versus the dollar, rising above $1.35. The pound GBP=D3 which had earlier firmed on the lifting of a French border blockage, last traded up 1.1% at $1.3526. Against the euro, the pound jumped 0.9% at 90.23 pence EURGBP=D3 .
The Brexit headlines overshadowed President Donald Trump's threat to veto the U.S. stimulus bill. Trump said the long-awaited stimulus package should be amended to increase the amount in the stimulus checks -- potentially disrupting the bill. the Australian dollar gained 0.8% against the dollar to US$0.7578 AUD=D3 , boosted in part by signs that a small COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney would be contained. The New Zealand dollar also rose 0.7 to US$0.7090 NZD=D3 .
The dollar dropped 0.2% against the Japanese yen JPY=EBS , another safe haven, to 103.44.
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Currency bid prices at 10:24AM (1524 GMT) Description
RIC
Last
U.S. Close Pct Change
YTD Pct
High Bid
Low Bid
Previous
Change
Session
Dollar index
=USD
90.2580
90.4660
-0.21%
+0.00%
+90.6710
+90.1510 Euro/Dollar
EUR=EBS
$1.2204
$1.2162
+0.35%
+8.86%
+$1.2221
+$1.2155 Dollar/Yen
JPY=EBS
103.4650
103.6150
-0.14%
-4.80%
+103.6350 +103.3550 Euro/Yen
EURJPY=
126.26
126.04
+0.17%
+3.53%
+126.3800 +125.9400 Dollar/Swiss
0.8883
0.8893
-0.10%
-8.20%
+0.8911
+0.8870 Sterling/Dollar GBP=D3
$1.3506
$1.3377
+0.99%
+1.85%
+$1.3569
+$1.3361 Dollar/Canadian CAD=D3
1.2867
1.2908
-0.29%
-0.93%
+1.2914
+1.2847 Aussie/Dollar
AUD=D3
$0.7576
$0.7520
+0.72%
+7.95%
+$0.7591
+$0.7519 Euro/Swiss
EURCHF=
1.0839
1.0818
+0.19%
-0.12%
+1.0858
+1.0812 Euro/Sterling
EURGBP=
0.9030
0.9101
-0.78%
+6.81%
+0.9109
+0.9003 NZ
NZD=D3
$0.7089
$0.7043
+0.64%
+5.34%
+$0.7103
+$0.7031 Dollar/Dollar
Dollar/Norway
NOK=D3
8.6645
8.7390
-1.08%
-1.45%
+8.7545
+8.6450 Euro/Norway
EURNOK=
10.5750
10.6172
-0.40%
+7.49%
+10.6610
+10.5499 Dollar/Sweden
8.2888
8.3487
-0.23%
-11.33%
+8.3529
+8.2781 Euro/Sweden
EURSEK=
10.1156
10.1391
-0.23%
-3.38%
+10.1640
+10.1112
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