Asia FX steadies ahead of more Fed cues; USDJPY on intervention watch

Investing.com-- Most Asian currencies moved little on Thursday, while the dollar steadied as traders awaited key inflation data and addresses from Federal Reserve officials for more cues on interest rates.

The Japanese yen steadied from recent losses, with the USDJPY pair hovering below its highest level in 34 years after a slew of government officials warned they could intervene in currency markets.

Broader Asian currencies were also nursing steep losses this week, as uncertainty over U.S. interest rates pushed traders squarely into the dollar and other safe havens. Some hawkish Fed comments also weighed, with Governor Christopher Waller warning that the central bank had little impetus to cut interest rates early. 

USDJPY steadies under 1990 highs amid intervention watch 

The USDJPY pair moved little on Thursday after surging as high as 151.97 on Wednesday- its strongest level since mid-1990.

The pair surged largely on weakness in the yen, after BOJ officials offered a dovish outlook on tightening monetary policy further. 

But steep losses in the yen put traders on guard over any potential currency market intervention by the Japanese government. A slew of top-level finance and currency officials warned that they could carry out strict measures to curb yen weakness. 

The USDJPY’s previous breach of 1990 highs- which was in late-2022- sparked record-high dollar selling by the Japanese government. 

Pressure on the yen also came from strength in the dollar.

Dollar steadies near 1-mth high with PCE data, Fed speakers on tap

The dollar index and dollar index futures moved little in Asian trade on Thursday, and were within sight of one-month highs, as traders remained largely biased towards the greenback in anticipation of more cues on interest rates.

PCE price index data- the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge- is due on Friday. While markets will be closed for the Good Friday holiday, the reading is still expected to factor into the Fed’s outlook on interest rates.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell and FOMC member Mary Daly are also set to speak at separate events on Friday.

Broader Asian currencies moved little on Friday, as sentiment remained on edge before more Fed cues. 

The Chinese yuan steadied after recent weakness, with the USDCNY pair remaining well above the 7.2 level even as the People’s Bank of China set a substantially stronger-than-expected midpoint to stem more losses in the yuan.

The Australian dollar tread water with the AUDUSD pair moving little on mixed retail sales data. While retail spending in February was boosted by one-off expenditure on Taylor Swift concerts, underlying spending remained weak.

The Singapore dollar’s USDSGD pair moved little, while the South Korean won’s USDKRW rose 0.4%.

The Indian rupee remained in sight of record lows, with the USDINR pair pinned well above 83.