Asian currencies maintained a subdued stance on Thursday as investors awaited further signals on U.S. interest rates from Federal Reserve officials and awaited upcoming inflation data.
The Japanese yen exhibited some resilience, with the USDJPY pair stabilizing above the mid-155 mark following marginally hawkish comments from the Bank of Japan. Concerns persisted over potential government intervention in currency markets, keeping traders vigilant.
In broader Asian markets, currencies remained relatively muted as the dollar rebounded from recent losses. Several Fed officials cautioned that persistent inflationary pressures might prolong the period of high interest rates.
Japanese Yen Pauses Decline, USDJPY Hovers
The Japanese yen, as represented by the USDJPY pair, hovered around the mid-155 level on Thursday, marking a temporary halt to its recent downward trend. BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda’s remarks on potential inflationary consequences of yen weakness shifted sentiment, contrasting with his previous stance.
Despite recent interventions in currency markets by the Japanese government, doubts arose regarding the extent of the BOJ’s policy tightening capabilities amidst weak wage growth data for March.
Chinese Yuan Trims Losses Amid Import Surge
The Chinese yuan, depicted by the USDCNY pair, trimmed intraday gains following data revealing a substantial increase in Chinese imports in April, signaling robust domestic demand. While exports surpassed expectations, the surge in imports tempered the trade balance growth, albeit improving from the previous month’s four-month low.
Despite the potential adverse impact of increased imports on currency strength, optimism surrounding a potential economic rebound in China supported local consumption, providing some support to the yuan.
Dollar Stability Amid Fed Speakers and Inflation Data
Amidst a rebound in the dollar index and dollar index futures this week, broader Asian currencies remained subdued. Attention shifted towards upcoming speeches by Fed officials and the release of key consumer price index data next week.
With uncertainties lingering over U.S. interest rates, most Asian currencies traded sideways on Thursday. The Australian dollar’s AUDUSD pair saw a marginal uptick, while the Singapore dollar’s USDSGD and the South Korean won’s USDKRW pairs remained relatively unchanged.
The Indian rupee’s USDINR pair exhibited minimal movement, remaining within range of late-April record highs.