* Graphic: World FX rates in 2019
* Dollar hovers near 6-week high
* Euro, sterling marginally weaker versus greenback
By Vatsal Srivastava
SINGAPORE, Feb 11 (Reuters) - The dollar rose against most other
currencies on Monday, holding near a six-week high as fresh worries
about U.S.-Sino trade tensions and global growth drove appetite for
safe-haven assets.
"U.S.-China talks are the big focus for the week and the
dollar strength is indicative of the cautious market sentiment right
now owing to its safe-haven status," said Nick Twidale, chief
operating officer at Rakuten Securities.
"The Aussie dollar and the euro are at vulnerable levels
right now and further dampening in risk sentiment can lead to further
downside in these currencies."
U.S. negotiators will this week press China on longstanding
demands that it reform how it treats U.S. companies' intellectual
property in order to seal a trade deal that could prevent tariffs from
rising on Chinese imports.
The dollar gained 0.1 percent versus the yen to 109.82.
However, traders expect moves in dollar/yen to be small on Monday as
Japanese markets remain shut for a public holiday.
The dollar index , a gauge of its value versus six major peers,
was marginally higher at 96.64, on track for its eighth straight day
of gains.
Trade tensions between the world's two largest economies have been
a major driver of global investor sentiment over the past year. Market
confidence took a hit last week when U.S. President Donald Trump said
he did not plan to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping before a
March 1 deadline set by the two countries to achieve a trade deal.
Trump has vowed to increase U.S. tariffs on $200 billion worth of
Chinese imports to 25 percent from 10 percent currently if the two
sides cannot reach a deal by March 2.
The euro was marginally lower versus the greenback at $1.1322
in early Asian trade while the Aussie was 0.15 percent higher at
$0.7099, after a disastrous week in which it lost 2.2 percent.
The strength in the dollar has come despite the Federal Reserve
taking a dovish stance at its last policy meeting in January. For now,
investors are piling into the safety of the greenback due to fears of
a sharp global economic slowdown.
The euro came under pressure as core European government debt
yields touched their lowest in over two years. The single currency
has lost 2.5 percent so far this month.
Benchmark German yields were just 10 basis points away from zero percent.
The European Commission sharply cut on Thursday its forecasts for
euro zone economic growth for this year and next with the bloc's
largest economies expected to be held back by global trade tensions
and domestic challenges. .
Last month, the International Monetary Fund also downgraded its
forecasts for global growth.
Elsewhere, sterling was down 0.1 percent at $1.2935. Traders
expect the pound to remain volatile amid heightened political
uncertainty over the Brexit process.
(Reporting by Vatsal Srivastava; Editing by Sam Holmes)
((vatsal.srivastava@thomsonreuters.com; +65 68703571; Reuters
Messaging: vatsal.srivastava.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))