* Graphic: World FX rates in 2019 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh. The Swiss franc fell on Wednesday on signs the central bank may be intervening to stop it rising further, outweighing the impact of concerns about the spread of a new coronavirus that have driven investors into safe-haven assets this week.
The Swiss franc fell as much as half a percent on Wednesday after data this week indicated the country's central bank had stepped up its intervention in the market to stop its currency from appreciating.
* Stocks arrest slide as authorities tackle spread of virus. * WHO meets Wednesday to consider severity of outbreak. * Italian bonds hit by talk of 5-Star leader resignation. * Dollar looking ready to test December highs. * Oil recovers from Libyan supply jitters. * World FX rates in 2019 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh. * Asian stock markets: https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4. By Marc Jones.
* EM stocks index bounces after worst day in 5 months. * China vows to tighten containment measures for virus. * S.Africa annual inflation rises in December. By Shreyashi Sanyal. Emerging market stocks regained footing on Wednesday after China's response to contain a virus outbreak eased fears of a global pandemic, while the South African rand treaded water after a reading on inflation.
* Graphic: World FX rates in 2019 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh. The euro remained at a one-month low on Wednesday amid expectations European Central Bank policymakers would strike a cautious tone when they met later on Thursday.
* Graphic: World FX rates in 2019 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh. * Graphic: Trade-weighted sterling since Brexit vote http://tmsnrt.rs/2hwV9Hv. Britain's pound rose to its strongest level against the euro in almost two weeks on Wednesday as investors debated whether or not the Bank of England will cut interest rates when it meets next week.
Britain's Lloyds Banking Group (LYG) plans to scale down its foreign exchange business by the end of the year, stung by low profitability and rising competition from its rivals, three sources familiar with the matter said.
The challenge posed by Facebook's Libra cryptocurrency likely prodded major central banks to set up a new group to study the potential for issuing their own digital currencies, a former Bank of Japan executive said on Wednesday.
* Libra behind global c.bank competition to boost currency appeal. * New group may speed up use of new tech for wholesale settlement. * Hurdle high for c.bank digital curencies for retail settlement. * Digital currencies won't enhance appeal of negative rate policy. By Leika Kihara and Takahiko Wada.
Storm clouds are gathering over the U.S. dollar, threatening a two-year rally in the currency that has squeezed corporate profits and angered President Donald Trump.
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