TOKYO- The dollar held gains against a basket of major currencies on Thursday as escalating coronavirus cases in Europe stoked fears across markets that fresh lockdowns would further hit the already fragile economic recovery.
The safe-haven greenback steadied against a basket of six currencies at 93.41, taking a pause after its 0.3 percent gains in early trade.
Concerns of further damage to the economic recovery grew as French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel ordered their countries back into lockdown on Wednesday, as a massive second wave of coronavirus cases threatened to overwhelm Europe.
The euro changed hands at $1.1753 after sliding to a one-week low of $1.1718 overnight.
It also steadied against the Japanese yen, last fetching 122.63 yen after hitting its weakest levels since July overnight.
Amid surging cases across Europe, the European Central Bank meeting on Thursday is expected to resist pressure to unveil new stimulus measures, but will likely pave the way for action in December.
“EUR can fall further if ECB President Christine Lagarde lays the ground work for further policy easing at her post meeting press conference,” said Commonwealth Bank of Australia currency analyst Kim Mundy in a note.
