The dollar and export-focused currencies edged higher on Monday on broadly upbeat headlines about U.S.-China trade talks, while the pound climbed on hopes of an imminent Brexit and an end to years of political paralysis.

Moves were marginal, however, as scepticism and weariness of newsflow about both U.S.-China trade negotiations and Brexit kept investors cautious.

Sterling rose 0.2% to $1.2854 in Asian trade, lifting it from an almost two-week low hit on Friday following surveys showing businesses in their deepest funk since 2016.

The greenback, also supported by positive economic data released late last week, rose 0.1% on the safe-haven Japanese yen to 108.78 yen. The euro was steady at $1.1021 while the Australian and New Zealand dollars ticked higher.

Against a basket of currencies the dollar was steady at 98.258.

Source : Reuters