* Graphic: World FX rates in 2020 tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E * Report of new lockdowns in France hurts euro * Investors grow nervous before U.S. elections * Aussie in focus amid expectations for monetary easing By Stanley White TOKYO, Oct 28 (Reuters) - The euro fell against the dollar on Wednesday following a media report that France"s government was leaning toward reinstating a national lockdown to curb a resurgence in coronavirus cases. The dollar, however, gave up early gains and fell against the yen as sentiment turned bearish due to uncertainty about the outcome of the U.S. presidential election next week. The spike in infections "is certainly a concern for France and southern Europe, so the euro"s upside is heavy", said Junichi Ishikawa, senior foreign exchange strategist at IG Securities in Tokyo. He added that he does not expect the dollar to gain much against other currencies, "because people have been overly complacent about how markets will react after the U.S. election". The euro fell 0.14% to $1.1780 on Wednesday, down for a third consecutive session. Sterling held steady at $1.3043, supported by hopes for a last-minute trade deal between Britain and the European Union. The dollar fell to 104.23 yen, approaching a one-month low. Traders are bracing for more volatility in currency markets as the virus spreads in Europe, Britain, and the United States, fanning concerns that economic growth will weaken once again. French President Emmanuel Macron will give a televised address on Wednesday evening. His office has not said what the speech is about, but local media has reported that the government is exploring imposing a lockdown from midnight on Thursday. FOCUS ON U.S. ELECTIONS Traders, however, say the bigger focus is on the United States, which is also struggling to contain the coronavirus as people vote early before elections on Nov. 3. Polls show Democrat rival Joe Biden has a lead over incumbent Republican President Donald Trump, but some investors are sceptical because the polls did not predict Trump"s victory four years ago. Legal battles between Republicans and Democrats over how to count votes have raised the risk that the outcome of the election will be disputed, which is a negative factor for the dollar, some analysts say. Sentiment for the greenback has also weakened after Trump conceded that an additional round of U.S. fiscal stimulus is unlikely before the election. The onshore yuan fell slightly to 6.7097 against the dollar, extending a pullback from a 27-month high hit last week as the People"s Bank of China takes steps to curb the currency"s appreciation. The Australian dollar edged higher after data showed consumer prices in the third quarter rose 1.6% from the prior quarter, slightly more than the median estimate. The Reserve Bank of Australia is widely expected to lower interest rates and expand its government debt purchases at its next meeting on Nov. 3. ======================================================== Currency bid prices at 1:50PM (0450 GMT) Description RIC Last U.S. Close Pct Change YTD Pct High Bid Low Bid Previous Change Session Euro/Dollar $1.1780 $1.1796 -0.14% +5.08% +1.1799 +1.1770 Dollar/Yen 104.2150 104.4350 -0.16% -4.00% +104.5500 +104.2700 Euro/Yen 122.75 123.14 -0.32% +0.66% +123.1800 +122.7600 Dollar/Swiss 0.9089 0.9088 +0.02% -6.06% +0.9099 +0.9086 Sterling/Dollar 1.3041 1.3047 -0.04% -1.67% +1.3042 +1.3020 Dollar/Canadian 1.3187 1.3187 +0.00% +1.51% +1.3199 +1.3185 Aussie/Dollar 0.7144 0.7129 +0.20% +1.80% +0.7145 +0.7113 NZ 0.6709 0.6708 +0.03% -0.28% +0.6710 +0.6693 Dollar/Dollar All spots Tokyo spots Europe spots Volatilities Tokyo Forex market info from BOJ (Reporting by Stanley White; editing by Richard Pullin, Himani Sarkar and Kim Coghill)