Asia FX muted, dollar steadies near 4-mth high with CPI data in focus

Investing.com– Most Asian currencies moved little on Wednesday, while the dollar steadied near recent peaks as focus turned squarely to upcoming U.S. inflation data for more cues on interest rates.

The dollar shot up over the past week, while most Asian units weakened after Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election. Uncertainty over what a second Trump presidency will entail for Asia remained in play.

Traders were also seen holding out for more stimulus measures from China, after the country’s latest bout of fiscal measures underwhelmed. 

Dollar near 4-mth high with CPI data, Fed in focus 

The dollar index and dollar index futures steadied in Asian trade after falling slightly from a four-month high in the prior session.

Traders piled into the greenback amid bets that Trump will introduce more expansionary policies, potentially underpinning inflation in the coming years. 

But this trade paused on Wednesday, with focus turning to key upcoming consumer price index data later in the day. The reading is expected to show inflation remained sticky in October.

The October CPI reading also comes after Minneapolis Fed chief Neel Kashkari warned on Tuesday that any increases in inflation could see the Fed keep rates on hold.

His comments saw traders trim bets on a 25 basis point cut in December, with traders pricing in a 64.2% chance for a cut, down from yesterday’s 66.7% probability of a cut, according to CME Fedwatch.

More Fed officials are set to speak this week, most notably Chair Jerome Powell on Thursday. 

Asia FX muted amid US uncertainty, China jitters 

Most Asian currencies moved little on Wednesday, steadying from sharp losses in recent sessions as traders remained largely risk-averse. 

Underwhelming fiscal measures from China also dented regional sentiment, after Beijing did not outline any targeted measures to support private spending and the property market. 

The yuan’s USDCNY pair fell 0.1% on Wednesday after surging to a three-month high this week.

The Japanese yen weakened further this week, with the USDJPY pair rising to nearly 155 yen on Tuesday. Uncertainty over Japan’s political and monetary policy outlook also battered the yen, amid bets that a gulf between U.S. and local rates will persist for longer under Trump.

The Australian dollar’s AUDUSD pair was flat on Wednesday, as was the South Korean won’s USDKRW pair.

The Indian rupee’s USDINR pair hovered near record highs of 84.5 rupees, taking little support from data that showed Indian CPI inflation grew much more than expected in October.