Dollar slightly higher after Clinton bests Trump in debate

The US dollar earned a boost Tuesday after Hillary Clinton, who is favored by Wall Street, got the best of rival Donald Trump in the first US presidential debate.

Most analysts scored the Democrat, widely seen as a better bet for stable US finances, as the winner over Republican Trump, who lashed out at Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen as a political tool during the heavily televised debate.

But most key forex pairs, including the dollar-euro, stayed in narrow bands. The dollar rose to $1.1217 per euro and 100.36 yen, though it gave ground slightly to the pound, which rose to $1.3011.

"Mr Trump, whose controversial remarks about trade and foreign policy have set investors on edge, was seen as the loser, at least by the measure of reaction in forex where the dollar rallied broadly in relief," said Boris Schlossberg of BK Asset Management.

"However, perhaps the clearest indication that Mr Trump fared poorly was the two percent jump in the Mexican peso which has come under relentless selling assault over the past several weeks as Mr Trump surged in the polls," he said.

2100GMT Tuesday Monday

EUR/USD 1.1217 1.1254

EUR/JPY 112.58 112.87

EUR/CHF 1.0889 1.0906

EUR/GBP 0.8622 0.8673

USD/JPY 100.36 100.30

USD/CHF 0.9707 0.9690

GBP/USD 1.3011 1.2976