FOREX-Yuan weakens, safe havens gain on Chinese virus concerns

* Pneumonia-like virus in China hurts risk appetite * Euro gains before ECB, as data beats expectations * Sterling up after strong jobs report (New throughout, updates prices, market activity and comments to U.S. market open, new byline, changes dateline, previous LONDON) By Karen Brettell NEW YORK, Jan 21 (Reuters) - China's yuan tumbled on Tuesday and safe-haven currencies rallied as the spread of a pneumonia-like virus in China dampened risk appetite. China reported a fourth death from a new coronavirus as the number of cases continued to rise, just as hundreds of millions of Chinese prepared to travel for the Lunar New Year holiday. Global stocks fell as the outbreak rekindled memories of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2002-2003, another coronavirus which broke out in China and killed nearly 800 people in a global pandemic. "You've got a stronger yen, a stronger Swiss franc and risk aversion is setting in across everything," said Kit Juckes, an analyst at Societe Generale. The dollar was last up 0.54% against the offshore yuan at 6.904 per dollar. Currencies linked to Chinese trade and tourism also dropped. The Australian dollar touched its lowest in over a month at $0.6842, before rebounding to $0.6867, down 0.07% on the day. The dollar weakened 0.10% against the Japanese yen to 110.07 per dollar and was down 0.06% against the Swiss franc at 0.9673 per dollar. The Bank of Japan earlier nudged up its economic growth forecasts and was cautiously optimistic about the global outlook, though it said ongoing risks meant it was far too soon to consider scaling down its massive stimulus program. The euro gained against the dollar as better than expected data in the region overcame any safety bid for the greenback. A survey from Germany's ZEW research institute showed that the mood among German investors brightened far more than expected in January. The single currency was also supported by expectations that the European Central Bank will offer a brighter view of the economy when it meets on Thursday. “We could see a little bit more cautious optimism there, that’s getting people a little bit more excited about the euro,” said Mazen Issa, senior FX strategist at TD Securities in New York. The euro gained 0.15% to $1.1111. Sterling benefited from news that Britain's economy created jobs at its fastest rate in nearly a year in the three months to November, potentially undermining the case for a Bank of England interest rate cut next week. The pound was last up 0.42% at $1.3063. ======================================================== Currency bid prices at 9:20AM (1420 GMT) Description RIC Last U.S. Close Pct Change YTD Pct High Bid Low Bid Previous Change Session Euro/Dollar EUR= $1.1111 $1.1094 +0.15% -0.88% +1.1118 +1.1086 Dollar/Yen JPY= 110.0700 110.1800 -0.10% +1.11% +110.2100 +109.9000 Euro/Yen EURJPY= 122.32 122.23 +0.07% +0.30% +122.3600 +121.8700 Dollar/Swiss CHF= 0.9673 0.9679 -0.06% -0.05% +0.9689 +0.9662 Sterling/Dollar GBP= 1.3063 1.3009 +0.42% -1.48% +1.3083 +1.2996 Dollar/Canadian CAD= 1.3054 1.3046 +0.06% +0.52% +1.3077 +1.3044 Australian/Doll AUD= 0.6867 0.6872 -0.07% -2.19% +0.6880 +0.6845 ar Euro/Swiss EURCHF= 1.0749 1.0741 +0.07% -0.95% +1.0750 +1.0732 Euro/Sterling EURGBP= 0.8505 0.8526 -0.25% +0.60% +0.8535 +0.8498 NZ NZD= 0.6607 0.6606 +0.02% -1.89% +0.6615 +0.6589 Dollar/Dollar Dollar/Norway NOK= 8.9406 8.9256 +0.17% +1.85% +8.9675 +8.9241 Euro/Norway EURNOK= 9.9353 9.9033 +0.32% +0.98% +9.9435 +9.9034 Dollar/Sweden SEK= 9.4974 9.5145 -0.05% +1.60% +9.5387 +9.4907 Euro/Sweden EURSEK= 10.5545 10.5599 -0.05% +0.81% +10.5760 +10.5502 (Additional reporting by Dhara Ranasinghe in London Editing by Nick Zieminski)