FOREX-Dollar nurses losses after benign inflation data

* Graphic: World FX rates https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E * Soft CPI data takes some steam out of reflation trade * Dollar's upward trend remains intact * ECB divided over response to rising bond yields By Stanley White TOKYO, March 11 (Reuters) - The dollar nursed losses against most currencies on Thursday after benign data on U.S. consumer price data and a decline in Treasury yields led some investors to trim bets on a rapid acceleration in inflation. The euro was in focus ahead of a European Central Bank meeting later on Thursday where policymakers are expected to send a message that they will prevent bond yields from rising further and harming the bloc's economic outlook. Sentiment for the dollar remains fairly positive as the U.S. economy is recovering from the coronavirus pandemic and President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion stimulus bill has won final approval in Congress, so any further declines in the dollar are likely temporary. "The reflation trade looks set to continue," said Junichi Ishikawa, senior foreign exchange strategist at IG Securities. "The dollar is the dominant theme in the currency market, and this is just a temporary pause in its uptrend." Against the euro, the dollar was quoted at $1.1928, nursing a 0.2% loss from the previous session. The British pound bought $1.3933 after rising 0.3% on Wednesday. The dollar traded at 108.37 yen, extending a pullback from a nine-month high reached on Tuesday. Against the safe-harbour Swiss franc, the dollar bought 0.9297. U.S. core consumer prices rose 1.3% year-on-year in February, a slight slowdown from a 1.4% annual increase in the previous month, data showed on Wednesday. The dollar and U.S. Treasury yields have been rising steadily due to expectations that the Federal Reserve's loose monetary policy and fiscal stimulus will stoke inflation, but the subdued price data took some momentum away from the greenback. Traders are also closely watching an auction of 30-year Treasuries later on Thursday, which will be an important test of demand for new debt. An auction of 10-year Treasuries on Wednesday was met with sufficient demand, easing concerns about investors' ability to absorb an increase in debt needed to finance the response to the coronavirus. If future auctions also draw reasonably strong demand this would be another positive factor for the dollar, according to IG Securities' Ishikawa. The dollar index against a basket of six major currencies was little changed at 91.771. Investors have been testing the ECB's resolve to rein in rising bond yields. So far the euro zone's central bank has refrained from large-scale market intervention, and policymakers are divided on whether one is warranted ahead of their meeting on Thursday. Policymakers have also expressed concern about strength in the euro, which is another reason for traders to remain cautious before the ECB's meeting. Elsewhere, the Australian and New Zealand dollars steadied against the greenback, but sentiment for the antipodean currencies remains strong due rising commodity prices and expectations for an acceleration in global trade. ======================================================== Currency bid prices at 0014 GMT Description RIC Last U.S. Close Pct Change YTD Pct High Bid Low Bid Previous Change Session Euro/Dollar $1.1928 $1.1929 -0.01% -2.37% +1.1930 +1.1924 Dollar/Yen 108.3700 108.5400 -0.16% +4.91% +108.4600 +108.3600 Euro/Yen 129.26 129.28 -0.02% +1.84% +129.3700 +129.2500 Dollar/Swiss 0.9297 0.9299 -0.01% +5.10% +0.9299 +0.9298 Sterling/Dollar 1.3933 1.3935 -0.01% +1.99% +1.3935 +1.3929 Dollar/Canadian 1.2612 1.2620 -0.04% -0.93% +1.2621 +1.2615 Aussie/Dollar 0.7740 0.7737 +0.05% +0.63% +0.7741 +0.7730 NZ 0.7198 0.7195 +0.03% +0.22% +0.7198 +0.7191 Dollar/Dollar All spots Tokyo spots Europe spots Volatilities Tokyo Forex market info from BOJ (Reporting by Stanley White; Editing by Sam Holmes)