Currencies

A recent judgement finds that Bitcoin can’t be regulated under apartheid-era exchange control rules. The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) is appealing a Pretoria High Court ruling that set aside its forfeiture of more than R16.4 million held by Standard Bank, ruling that apartheid-era exchange control regulations can’t be used to deal with modern-day crypto-currency transactions.Standard Bank had taken SARB to court, arguing that the central bank could not lawfully forfeit funds it held as collateral for a R40 million overdraft it granted to the now defunct Leo Cash and...

MUMBAI, June 23 (Reuters) - The Indian rupee declined on Monday alongside Asian currencies, as investors turned to safe-havens such as the U.S. dollar amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, although a retreat in crude oil prices helped cushion their losses.Market participants remained focused on Iran's response to U.S. attacks on its nuclear sites. Sign up here.The rupee closed at 86.75 against the U.S. dollar, down 0.2% from its close at 86.5850 in the previous session.Brent crude oil futures hit a five-month peak of $81.40 per barrel earlier in...

23 Jun 2025 10:47 Share of national currencies in Belarus's settlements with EAEU partners reaches 95% - National Bank head MINSK. June 23 (Interfax) - Belarus devotes special attention to increasing the share of settlements between partners in national currencies, with the current figure for the country standing at 95%, National Bank of Belarus Board Chairman Roman Golovchenko said. "Regarding our country, there's no issue - 95% of our foreign trade settlements with EAEU countries are conducted in national currencies. In Russian rubles, Kazakh tenge, Belarusian rubles. Ninety-five percent is...

India’s foreign exchange reserves provide a crucial cushion against geopolitical turmoil, inflation, and currency pressure, says RBI member. | Photo Credit: iStockphoto India’s $700 billion in foreign exchange reserves gives the economy a crucial cushion against rising geopolitical turmoil, a member of India’s rate-setting panel said, as hostilities in the Middle East continue to deepen. Ram Singh, an external member of the monetary policy committee with the Reserve Bank of India, said in an interview with the Economic Times newspaper that he expects the country’s foreign-exchange buffer to help blunt the...

USD/CAD strengthens as the direct involvement of the US in Middle East tensions has increased the safe-haven demand.US President Trump confirmed that Washington’s military forces have launched airstrikes on Iran.The Oil price is expected to benefit from rising Oil prices.The USD/CAD pair extends its winning streak for the fifth trading day on Monday. The Loonie pair gains as demand for safe-haven assets, such as the US Dollar (USD), has increased after the direct involvement of the United States (US) into the aerial war between Israel and Iran over the weekend.The...

The Indian Rupee slumps to near 86.85 at open against the US Dollar as rising crude prices have battered the former.Iran threatens to close the Strait of Hormuz following the US attack on Tehran’s nuclear facilities.Fed’s Waller supports reducing interest rates in the July policy meeting.The Indian Rupee (INR) opens on a bearish note against the US Dollar (USD) and jumps to near 86.85 at the start of the week. Investors were bracing for a significant negative opening of the USD/INR pair, following the risk-off market sentiment and a sharp...

Most Asian currencies fell on Monday as the U.S. dollar strengthened in the wake of American strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities, stoking demand for safe-haven assets. The dollar index added roughly 0.3% in early Asian trade, extending last week’s rise after several Federal Reserve officials signaled interest rates may stay higher for longer. Investors now look to Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s testimony before Congress on Tuesday and Wednesday for policy clues. Safe-haven flows favored the greenback even as traditional refuges such as gold and the Japanese yen weakened. Tehran’s...

Oil prices surged and Asian markets traded lower on Monday on concerns of disruption to energy markets after US air strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.The dollar strengthened as traders assessed the weekend’s events, with Iran threatening US bases in the Middle East as fears grow of an escalating conflict in the volatile region.Iran is the world’s ninth-biggest oil-producing country, with output of about 3.3 million barrels per day.It exports just under half of that amount and keeps the rest for domestic consumption.If Tehran decides to retaliate, observers say one of...

KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 — The ringgit opened higher against the US dollar and a basket of major currencies on Monday despite a strong US Dollar Index (DXY) as ongoing geopolitical tensions, with the United States’ (US) involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict, in focus, said an analyst.At 8 am, the local note rose to 4.2420/2655 against the greenback from Friday’s close of 4.2505/2565.Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said there are fears of a wider conflagration in the region as the US announced “successful” airstrikes...

SINGAPORE – Some of emerging Asia’s biggest central banks look to be dialing back their interventions in the currency market.The central banks of India and Malaysia have reduced the size of some derivatives positions they use to weaken their currencies. Taiwan has allowed its currency to surge against the US dollar in recent weeks and dropped hints it would be comfortable with more if the moves were “orderly.” South Korea’s giant national pension fund has ended its five-month support of the won.A major reason for these moves is a simple...