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Asian Currencies Steady Amid Market Fluctuations
Most Asian currencies steadied on Thursday, following recent declines, as the Japanese yen lingered near three-month lows. The U.S. dollar remains supported by expectations of a slower pace of interest rate cuts, reflecting ongoing market uncertainty.
Increased risk aversion impacted regional currencies, with traders cautious ahead of a tight U.S. presidential race and rising tensions in the Middle East. The dollar and gold benefited from this risk aversion, while the yen struggled to attract safe-haven demand amid doubts about the Bank of Japan's (BOJ) capacity to raise interest rates further.
Japanese Yen Stabilizes with Intervention Concerns
The Japanese yen's USDJPY pair saw slight declines on Thursday after reaching a near three-month high in the previous session. Support for the yen emerged as Japanese officials warned against “one-sided” moves in the currency market, heightening fears of potential intervention. However, weak purchasing managers index (PMI) data indicated a contraction in business activity for October, keeping the yen fragile.
Anticipation of general elections in Japan this Sunday raises further doubts about future BOJ rate hikes. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party may need to form a coalition to maintain power, complicating the BOJ's monetary policy decisions.
Dollar Remains Strong Amid Rising Yields
The dollar index slightly dipped but remained close to three-month highs, bolstered by rising Treasury yields. Market expectations suggest the Federal Reserve may only cut rates by 25 basis points in November, supported by signs of resilience in the U.S. economy.
As broader Asian currencies made modest gains, the Australian dollar (AUDUSD) rose by 0.2%, while the South Korean won (USDKRW) remained stable after disappointing GDP data. The Chinese yuan (USDCNY) declined by 0.2%, while the Singapore dollar (USDSGD) and Indian rupee (USDINR) experienced slight drops.
