Asian currencies traded in a narrow range on Thursday, while the U.S. dollar stabilized after the Federal Reserve delivered a widely expected 25-basis-point rate cut. The move, aimed at supporting a weakening labor market, was accompanied by cautious commentary from Chair Jerome Powell, who signaled that further easing will be measured despite pressure from former President Donald Trump for more aggressive cuts. The dollar index, which had recently fallen to a 3½-year low, rebounded on Wednesday and held steady in Asian trading.
The Japanese yen traded around 146.98 per dollar, consolidating gains this week as investors awaited the Bank of Japan’s policy outcome on Friday. The BOJ is expected to leave rates unchanged, but sticky inflation and political uncertainty following Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s resignation could set the stage for hawkish signals. Japan’s August CPI data, due ahead of the meeting, is expected to show core inflation well above the 2% target.
Across Asia, most currencies steadied after earlier gains on bets of lower U.S. rates. Safe havens like gold and the yen firmed, while risk-driven assets saw mixed sentiment. The Chinese yuan edged 0.1% higher after nearing 10-month highs, supported by Beijing’s latest pledge for consumer-driven stimulus.
The New Zealand dollar fell 0.6% after GDP data showed a second-quarter contraction, making it the region’s weakest performer. The Australian dollar slipped 0.1% after hitting 10-month highs, while the Indian rupee weakened 0.3% but remained under the 88 mark. Meanwhile, the South Korean won and Singapore dollar also dipped 0.3% and 0.1% respectively, reflecting cautious sentiment amid ongoing global uncertainty.
