The dollar changed little against most major currencies in thin mid-morning trading today, and dealers forecast a steady course before the Nov. 8 presidential election in the United States. Gold prices were higher. Foreign exchange dealers said the dollar bounced back in Europe from lows hit during the Tokyo trading day on support from a third day of intervention from Japan's central bank, the Bank of Japan, and fear of the same by the U.S. Federal Reserve. But they said sentiment remained essentially bearish, although the dollar was unlikely to fall sharply ahead of the U.S. election. ``The nearer we come to the election the calmer the dollar will be,'' said one trader in Milan. In London, the dollar rose against the British pound. One pound cost $1.7695 today, more expensive for buyers than Tuesday's late $1.7668. Other mid-morning dollar rates compared with Tuesday's late rates: _1.7824 West German marks, down from 1.7865 _1.4990 Swiss francs, down from 1.5025 _6.0835 French francs, down 6.0965 _2.0100 Dutch guilders, down from 2.0155 _1,323.85 Italian lire, up from 1,331.50 _1.2270 Canadian dollars, down from 1.2278 Earlier in Tokyo, the dollar closed at 124.68 Japanese yen, down 0.62 yen from late Tuesday. Later, the dollar traded in London at 124.90 yen. Gold opened in London at a bid price of $411.65 a troy ounce, up from $411.25 late Tuesday. At mid-morning, London's five major bullion dealers fixed a recommended gold price of $412.50 a troy ounce. Gold was trading in Zurich at $412.10 a troy ounce today, up from $411.00 Tuesday. Earlier in Hong Kong, gold closed at a bid $413.90, up slightly from Tuesday's $413.89. Silver bullion traded in London at a bid $6.34 a troy ounce, up from $6.28.
