The Swiss franc pushed higher against the dollar on Friday, consolidating small gains eked out in the previous two sessions as the focus on Europe's debt crisis shifted to the United States' so-called "fiscal cliff". The franc rose 0.3 percent against the dollar compared to the New York close, trading at 0.9251 francs per dollar by 0723 GMT.

The franc was little changed against the euro at 1.2040 francs per euro. The franc has been shadowing the euro's moves against other currencies since the Swiss National Bank imposed a cap on the franc at 1.20 per euro more than a year ago to stem deflation and ward off a recession. Hopes US lawmakers will strike a deal to avert $600 billion worth of tax hikes and spending cuts - or the "fiscal cliff" due to start in the new year - fuelled risk appetite, buoying stock markets and giving the euro a lift.

Copyright Reuters, 2012