Investing.com-- Most Asian currencies moved in a flat-to-low range on Friday as traders digested some relief over U.S. trade tariffs, although strong U.S. inflation data kept most regional units under pressure.
The U.S. dollar was set for a weekly loss as it largely fell past strong inflation readings for January, after President Donald Trump signaled that he will not immediately impose reciprocal tariffs on U.S. trading partners as initially feared.
But sentiment towards Asian markets still remained skittish after Trump imposed steep tariffs on steel and aluminum imports this week- duties that stand to affect several Asian economies.
The dollar had initially firmed on the commodity tariffs. But the greenback reversed course after Trump signaled reciprocal tariffs were still weeks, if not months away.
Dollar heads for weekly loss on tariff relief, mixed inflation cues
The dollar index and dollar index futures moved little in Asian trade on Friday after clocking steep losses over the past two days. They were also set to lose about 0.9% this week.
Losses in the dollar came as Trump signed an executive order to explore reciprocal tariffs on major U.S. trading partners. But the tariffs are only expected to be imposed by April, giving countries more time at the negotiating table with Trump.
The dollar was also dented by mixed inflation cues. While both producer price index and consumer price index inflation readings read higher for January, certain components of the two- which are used to gauge PCE price index inflation- softened slightly.
The trend spurred hopes that PCE inflation- which is the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge- will ease in the coming months, giving the central bank some headroom to consider cutting interest rates further. Treasury yields also sank on this notion.
But Fed Chair Jerome Powell signaled this week that uncertainty over sticky inflation and inflationary policies under Trump will see the bank maintain a cautious stance towards further easing.
Asia FX weak amid tariff, inflation jitters
But Asian currencies took little relief from the delayed tariffs, as sentiment towards the region was dented by fears of an escalating U.S.-China trade war. Trump had last week imposed a 10% duty on all Chinese imports.
The yuan moved little on Friday, although the USDCNY pair did fall from the 7.3 yuan level.
The Japanese yen steadied, with the USDJPY pair having fallen sharply over the past two days, amid persistent bets on more rate hikes by the Bank of Japan.
The Singapore dollar’s USDSGD pair rose 0.1% even as gross domestic product data showed the island state’s economy grew much more than expected in the fourth quarter.
The South Korean won’s USDKRW pair rose 0.2%, while the Australian dollar’s AUDUSD rose slightly, even as traders positioned for a 25 basis point rate cut by the Reserve Bank of Australia next week.
The Indian rupee’s USDINR pair rose 0.2% after intervention by the Reserve Bank of India helped the pair fall sharply from record highs.
But sentiment towards India was mixed following a meeting between Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
While the two did flag increased trade, economic and defense-related cooperation between Washington and Delhi, Trump still chided India’s steep import duties, which could invite reciprocal trade tariffs against the country.