- U.S. consumer confidence rises to highest since November
- Euro holds above 2-year lows after EU elections
- Yen steady as Trump talks trade in Tokyo
- Graphic: World FX rates in 2019 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
(New throughout, updates prices, market action; new byline, changes dateline, previous LONDON)
The dollar stayed firm against a basket of currencies on Tuesday, supported by trade and political worries and a strong rise in U.S. consumer confidence, even as longer-dated U.S. bond yields dropped to 19-month lows.
The euro rebounded from session lows as investors were relieve that pro-Europe parties won a majority of European parliamentary seats.
Currency trading remained light even as U.S. and U.K.-based traders returned from holidays.
"This is the first full day for the markets after holidays in both U.K. and U.S. yesterday and the economic calendar is nearly barren today adding to the lackluster tone in the trade," said Boris Schlossberg, managing director of FX strategy at BK Asset Management in New York.
At 9:35 a.m. (1335 GMT), an index that tracks the greenback against the euro, yen, sterling and three other currencies =USD was 0.082% higher at 97.815.
The dollar strengthened after the Conference Board said its gauge on U.S. consumer confidence rose to 134.1 in May, the strongest since November. Analysts had forecast a reading of 130.00.
Earlier, benchmark 10-year Treasury yields US10YT=RR fell to 2.273% after U.S. President Donald Trump signaled the United States and China were far from a trade deal. It was the lowest 10-year yield since October 2017. Investors have been loading up on safe-haven U.S. government debt due to trade worries and political uncertainty.
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, whose far-right League triumphed in European elections on Sunday, said the European Commission could fine Italy 3 billion euros for breaking EU debt and deficit rules, a comment that weighed on the single currency.
The euro has recovered, holding steady at $1.1187 EUR=EBS and 122.57 yen EURJPY=EBS .
The euro hit a near 23-month low of $1.11055 last week.
European leaders now meet in Brussels to begin the process of filling a number of top EU posts, from the head of the European Commission to the European Central Bank.
The yen JPY=EBS was little changed at 109.57 per dollar as U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he expected Japan and the United States to announce a trade agreement "probably in August."
======================================================== Currency bid prices at 10:23AM (1423 GMT)Description RIC Last U.S. Close Pct Change YTD Pct High Bid Low Bid Previous Change Session Euro/Dollar EUR= $1.1185 $1.1196 -0.10% -2.47% +1.1202 +1.1176 Dollar/Yen JPY= 109.5500 109.5000 +0.05% -0.64% +109.6200 +109.2200 Euro/Yen EURJPY= 122.54 122.57 -0.02% -2.92% +122.7000 +122.2100 Dollar/Swiss CHF= 1.0075 1.0037 +0.38% +2.65% +1.0078 +1.0035 Sterling/Dollar GBP= 1.2665 1.2677 -0.09% -0.72% +1.2701 +1.2655 Dollar/Canadian CAD= 1.3472 1.3441 +0.23% -1.21% +1.3478 +1.3433 Australian/Doll AUD= 0.6929 0.6917 +0.17% -1.70% +0.6933 +0.6917 arEuro/Swiss EURCHF= 1.1269 1.1232 +0.33% +0.13% +1.1274 +1.1225 Euro/Sterling EURGBP= 0.8830 0.8830 +0.00% -1.73% +0.8841 +0.8806 NZ NZD= 0.6546 0.6543 +0.05% -2.55% +0.6558 +0.6544 Dollar/DollarDollar/Norway NOK= 8.6851 8.7040 -0.22% +0.54% +8.7125 +8.6755 Euro/Norway EURNOK= 9.7173 9.7477 -0.31% -1.90% +9.7530 +9.7117 Dollar/Sweden SEK= 9.5535 9.5792 -0.35% +6.58% +9.5876 +9.5398 Euro/Sweden EURSEK= 10.6888 10.7260 -0.35% +4.14% +10.7305 +10.6740 <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Euro vs U.S. dollar http//tmsnrt.rs/2Wfu7tv^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^>
