FOREX-Dollar dithers in thin trade as Trump passes pandemic aid package

* Shutdown averted as Trump relents on threat to block bill * Sterling hovers near 2 1/2-year high in wake of Brexit deal * Graphic: World FX rates in 2020 https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E By Kevin Buckland TOKYO, Dec 28 (Reuters) - The dollar shrugged off news of President Trump relenting on a threat to block a COVID-19 aid bill in thin trading on Monday with many investors on holiday. The pound hovered below a 2 1/2-year high in the Asian session following the agreement last week of a narrow Brexit trade deal that does not cover Britain's financial sector. The dollar index was little changed at 90.224, following a three-day slide. Sterling added 0.1% to $1.3544, treading water below the 2 1/2-year high of $1.3625 hit earlier this month. Trump signed into law the $2.3 trillion pandemic aid and spending package, officials said on Sunday night, averting a partial federal government shutdown. Earlier he had cryptically tweeted, "Good news on Covid Relief Bill. Information to follow!" He had previously demanded an increase in stimulus checks for struggling Americans to $2,000 from $600. The euro slipped 0.1% to $1.2199, further retreating from the 2 1/2-year high of $1.2273 touched this month. While last week's Brexit deal came as a relief to investors, the bare-bones nature of the pact leaves Britain far more detached from the EU, analysts say, suggesting the discount that has dogged UK assets since 2016 will not vanish soon. Brussels has made no decision yet on whether to grant Britain access to the bloc's financial market. Mitsuo Imaizumi, chief FX strategist at Daiwa Securities in Tokyo, expects the pound and euro to decline against the dollar, reaching $1.30 and $1.15 respectively by the end of the summer. "Regardless of the Brexit deal, cable will be down," he said. "It’s buy the rumour, sell the fact." The dollar was little changed at 103.63 yen. Policymakers at Japan's central were divided on how far they should go in examining yield curve control with some calling for a comprehensive review of the framework, a summary of opinions voiced at the December rate review showed on Monday. ======================================================== Currency bid prices at 10:24AM (124 GMT) Description RIC Last U.S. Close Pct Change YTD Pct High Bid Low Bid Previous Change Session Euro/Dollar $1.2204 $1.2220 -0.13% +8.86% +1.2208 +1.2179 Dollar/Yen 103.5720 103.6550 -0.05% -4.62% +103.6220 +103.4800 Euro/Yen 126.40 126.23 +0.13% +3.65% +126.4600 +126.0700 Dollar/Swiss 0.8896 0.8912 +0.02% -8.06% +0.8909 +0.8896 Sterling/Dollar 1.3540 1.3570 +0.10% +2.14% +1.3572 +1.3530 Dollar/Canadian 1.2845 1.2868 -0.17% -1.10% +1.2858 +1.2838 Aussie/Dollar 0.7600 0.7588 -0.04% +8.30% +0.7613 +0.7592 NZ 0.7114 0.7099 -0.13% +5.72% +0.7118 +0.7107 Dollar/Dollar All spots Tokyo spots Europe spots Volatilities Tokyo Forex market info from BOJ (Reporting by Kevin Buckland; Editing by Stephen Coates)