Asian currencies traded mostly flat on Tuesday as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s policy meeting, which begins later in the day. Market participants are watching closely for signals from Fed Chair Jerome Powell and updated economic projections that could shape expectations for interest-rate moves in the coming months. The U.S. Dollar Index also saw limited movement during Asian trading hours, reflecting the broader wait-and-see sentiment across global foreign exchange markets.
Traders continue to lean toward the likelihood of a 25-basis-point rate cut, with futures markets pricing in an 87% chance of easing at the December 10 meeting. However, mixed messaging from Fed officials has introduced uncertainty, as policymakers have acknowledged lingering questions about the strength of the U.S. economy. This has left investors considering the possibility of a slower or more gradual rate-cut cycle rather than an aggressive shift in monetary policy.
Against this backdrop, most Asian currencies remained in tight ranges. The Japanese yen and Singapore dollar traded flat against the U.S. dollar, while South Korea’s won also saw little movement. India’s rupee strengthened slightly, rising 0.1%. In China, the onshore yuan held steady and the offshore yuan dipped 0.1%, reflecting modest shifts ahead of the Fed announcement.
The Australian dollar, however, bucked the region’s muted trend. The AUD/USD pair gained 0.2% after the Reserve Bank of Australia left its cash rate unchanged at 3.60%, a decision widely expected by markets. The RBA highlighted that inflation risks have tilted higher and noted that stronger-than-anticipated private demand could increase pressure on capacity. With underlying inflation still sticky, the central bank appears prepared to maintain a steady policy stance, pausing its recent easing cycle while it evaluates inflation’s persistence.
This measured approach from both the Fed and RBA keeps global currency markets focused on upcoming economic signals that could influence rate paths heading into year-end.
