FOREX-Dollar slips, sterling gains after UK, EU strike Brexit trade deal

    * Pound extends gains as Brexit deal reached
    * Dollar down as Brexit news overshadow stimulus uncertainty
    * Graphic: World FX rates in 2020 tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E

 (Adds new comment, FX table, updates prices, changes byline, dateline; previous AMSTERDAM)
    By Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss
    NEW YORK, Dec 24 (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar was mostly lower on Thursday, while sterling gained after
Britain and the European Union struck a post-Brexit trade deal, boosting the market's appetite for risk
and raising hopes the United Kingdom can avoid a turbulent economic departure at the end of the year.
    Britain clinched a trade deal with the European Union on Thursday, just seven days before it exits one
of the world's biggest trading blocs in its most significant global shift since the loss of empire.
    "Deal is done," a Downing Street source said. "We have taken back control of our money, borders, laws,
trade and our fishing waters."
    The EU Commission will hold a press briefing on the trade agreement later on Thursday.
    In mid-morning trading, the dollar index was slightly lower at 90.256. So far this year, the
dollar has fallen 6.5%, its worst yearly performance since 2017. 
    Currency markets also seemed to have shrugged off President Donald Trump's criticism of the fiscal
relief package earlier approved in Congress, which could put the bill in limbo. 
    Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday blocked attempts to alter a
$2.3 trillion coronavirus aid and government spending package, leaving its status in doubt after Trump
demanded extensive changes to the legislation.
    Sterling, meanwhile, extended gains and rose as high as $1.3620. It was last up 0.7% at $1.3591, with
potential to rise to a 2-1/2 year high above $1.3625.
    The pound also rose to a three-week high against the euro at 89.54 pence. and was last up
0.7% at 89.72 pence.
    
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    Currency bid prices at 9:58AM (1458 GMT)
 Description      RIC         Last           U.S. Close  Pct Change     YTD Pct     High Bid    Low Bid
                                              Previous                   Change                 
                                              Session                                           
 Dollar index                 90.2560        90.3020     -0.04%         +0.00%      +90.3390    +90.1510
 Euro/Dollar                  $1.2190        $1.2187     +0.03%         +8.74%      +$1.2216    +$1.2178
 Dollar/Yen                   103.6950       103.5400    +0.15%         -4.59%      +103.6950   +103.5000
 Euro/Yen                     126.40         126.19      +0.17%         +3.64%      +126.4900   +126.1900
 Dollar/Swiss                 0.8909         0.8885      +0.29%         -7.92%      +0.8914     +0.8870
 Sterling/Dollar              $1.3583        $1.3500     +0.62%         +2.42%      +$1.3618    +$1.3495
 Dollar/Canadian              1.2825         1.2846      -0.15%         -1.26%      +1.2853     +1.2827
 Aussie/Dollar                $0.7602        $0.7579     +0.32%         +8.36%      +$0.7607    +$0.7571
 Euro/Swiss                   1.0861         1.0819      +0.39%         +0.08%      +1.0861     +1.0824
 Euro/Sterling                0.8971         0.9029      -0.64%         +6.12%      +0.9035     +0.8954
 NZ                           $0.7113        $0.7096     +0.24%         +5.71%      +$0.7117    +$0.7092
 Dollar/Dollar                                                                                  
 Dollar/Norway                8.6235         8.6435      -0.04%         -1.50%      +8.6445     +8.6120
 Euro/Norway                  10.5151        10.5390     -0.23%         +6.85%      +10.5420    +10.5014
 Dollar/Sweden                8.2595         8.2725      -0.26%         -11.64%     +8.2934     +8.2598
 Euro/Sweden                  10.0715        10.0982     -0.26%         -3.80%      +10.1090    +10.0724
 
 (Reporting by Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss; Additional reporting by Yoruk Bahceli in Amsterdam; Editing by
Chizu Nomiyama)