The European single currency rose on Friday against the dollar while the pound sterling moved in jagged according to the negotiations on the post-Brexit trade relationship between the EU and the United Kingdom.

Around 19:00 GMT (21:00 in Paris), the euro advanced 0.09% to the greenback, to 1.1718 dollar.

At the same time, the pound sterling, which had gained ground against the euro earlier in the day, gave up 0.06% against the European currency to 90.64 pence to the euro.

Against the greenback, the pound sterling advanced 0.14% to 1.2927 dollar.

These sudden movements, but of a moderate magnitude, followed Boris Johnson's statement on British television that the United Kingdom "must prepare" for a failure of the post-Brexit trade negotiations unless "fundamental change" of approach of the 27.

"The back and forth continues between the EU and the UK on the trade deal. Around 7 a.m. here in the eastern United States, British Prime Minister Johnson said that "the EU has abandoned the idea of a free trade agreement." And 40 minutes later, the president of the European Commission tweeted that she was going to London next week to negotiate: the pound has made a swing," said Mike Schumacher of Wells Fargo.

The UK "wants to gain the upper hand in the negotiations and hopes that disagreements will open up between the member states (Germany and France in particular) and that the EU will eventually accept what it proposes", commented Neil Wilson, Markets.com analyst.

According to him, "it was foreseeable before these statements that the UK and the EU would continue to discuss and work to reach an agreement. Boris wants to speak firmly but it's mostly for the crowds. The situation remains unchanged, both sides continue to work towards an agreement."

Against the dollar, the British currency is still much closer to its annual high reached in early September, near $1.35, than to its mid-March low, below $1.15.

Voice that counts on the markets, the president of the European Central Bank (ECB) Christine Lagarde also estimated Thursday that an agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union sealing their post-Brexit relations would eventually be concluded because of the considerable stakes for both parties.

Traders were also watching closely the evolution of the Covid-19 pandemic around the world, which this week has "played in favor of the US dollar", a designated safe haven, said Derek Halpenny of MUFG.

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19:00 GMT 21:00 GMT

EUR/USD 1.1718 1.1708

EUR/JPY 123.51 123.45

EUR/CHF 1.0726 1.0708

EUR/GBP 0.9064 0.9069

USD/JPY 105.40 105.45

USD/CHF 0.9154 0.9146

GBP/USD 1.2927 1.2909