Asia FX, dollar subdued ahead of Fed’s Powell speech
Asian currencies and the dollar were subdued on Thursday as investors awaited the Federal Reserve’s Jackson Hole symposium for cues on the U.S. interest rate path.
The US Dollar Index, which measures the greenback against a basket of major currencies, edged 0.1% higher in Asia hours. US Dollar Index Futures also ticked up 0.1%.
Traders remain cautious ahead of Fed Jackson Hole
Across the globe, focus was on the Federal Reserve’s Jackson Hole symposium, where Chair Jerome Powell is expected to deliver an important speech on Friday.
Traders will look for signals on whether the central bank is likely to cut rates by 25 basis points in September, following data last week showing hotter U.S. producer and import prices.
Powell’s speech comes amid continued pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump to cut rates, raising doubts about the central bank’s independence
“Still, when Chair Powell speaks on Friday, he’s likely to echo much of this prior sentiment. So, don’t expect Powell to be outright dovish on Friday,” ING analysts said in a note.
“He’s more likely to be balanced-to-hawkish. Remember, he does not have to decide till 17 September on the rate decision. Nothing to lose by keeping his options open and his prior biases alive until negated by events,” they added.
Asian currencies muted; Japan PMI in focus
The Japanese yen’s USD/JPY pair was largely unchanged on Thursday after data showed that the country’s factory activity contracted at a slower pace in August, nearing a return to growth.
Elsewhere, the Australian dollar’s AUD/USD pair ticked 0.2% lower.
The South Korean won’s USD/KRW was largely unchanged, while the Singapore dollar’s USD/SGD ticked up 0.1%.
The Indian rupee’s USD/INR was also muted, while the Indonesian rupiah’s USD/IDR gained 0.3%.
Source: Investing.com
