Asian Currencies Hold Steady Amid Iran Peace Talks and BOJ Rate Hike Uncertainty

Asian currencies traded in a narrow range on Friday as investors remained cautious ahead of further U.S.-Iran peace negotiations, while the Japanese yen slipped after the Bank of Japan's governor signaled little urgency to raise interest rates at its upcoming April meeting.

The dollar index held steady during Asian trading hours, poised for a second consecutive week of losses. Easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East reduced safe-haven demand for the greenback, allowing most Asian currencies to post modest weekly gains on the back of improved risk appetite.

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism about a potential ceasefire agreement, stating that additional talks could take place within days. A separate U.S.-brokered, ten-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon further fueled hopes for broader regional stability, though ongoing U.S. sanctions on Iran and restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz kept market sentiment in check.

The yen remained under pressure after BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda delivered broadly dovish remarks at a press conference, sidestepping any firm commitment to hiking rates in April. Despite acknowledging Japan's low real interest rates and healthy corporate earnings, his tone disappointed investors who had hoped for stronger action to combat inflation driven by energy market disruptions. Analysts at OCBC warned that a failure to hike could push the USD/JPY pair above 160, potentially triggering intervention by Japan's Ministry of Finance.

Elsewhere across Asia, the Australian dollar outperformed regional peers, rising over one percent for the week as traders increased bets on further Reserve Bank of Australia rate hikes. The Chinese yuan, Singapore dollar, and South Korean won were largely flat, while the Indian rupee edged lower despite some relief from declining oil prices, a key factor influencing its recent record lows.