Yen firms along with dollar

The dollar and yen drew support on Thursday as rising coronavirus cases and scant progress towards a U.S. stimulus deal unsettled investors, while the Australian dollar hit a one-week low after the central bank chief hinted at easing to come.

France has imposed curfews as autumn brings a steep rise in daily infections, prompting worries about a new wave of lockdowns around the world just as hopes for a shot in the arm from U.S. stimulus spending are fading.

The safe-haven yen stood at 105.25 per dollar in early trade, a fraction shy of a two-week high of 105.04 made overnight. The greenback held ground elsewhere, save for against sterling which had jumped on signs of progress in Brexit talks.