HALISTER1: INSIDE ASIA: Currencies Fall as Dollar Rallies on Fed Prospects

INSIDE ASIA: Currencies Fall as Dollar Rallies on Fed Prospects

(Bloomberg) -- Asian currencies slide on broad dollar strength after regional U.S. Fed chiefs suggest interest-rate hikes could restart in June.
  • South Korea’s won and Malaysia’s ringgit lead declines, both falling more than 1%; Thai baht and Philippine peso follow
  • Atlanta Fed president Dennis Lockhart and San Francisco’s John Williams both signaled a rate increase could be warranted in June
    • The comments are causing USD/EM Asia FX to rise, Scotiabank currency strategist Gao Qi says; Fed tightening, oil prices and PBOC’s yuan policy to drive EM currencies in coming mos.
  • Won falls 1.3%, most since Nov. 9, touching weakest since April 14
    • South Korean banks asked central bank to lower reserve ratios so they can have more funds for corporate restructuring, unnamed BOK official says
    • BOK releases latest policy meeting minutes today
    • FX reserves increased to $372.48b in April from $369.84b in March
  • Ringgit falls to weakest level since March 29
    • Several Hong Kong bank accounts said to be frozen in connection with 1MDB probe
  • Yuan drops for third day after China weakens fixing by most since August
    • Authorities press commentators to brighten views on economy: WSJ
  • Kiwi slips vs dollar for second day
    • New Zealand’s unemployment rate rose to 5.7% in 1Q, more than median est. 5.5% and revised 5.4% prior Q; employment rose more than forecast, up 1.2% q/q vs est. +0.6%
    • House price inflation at 12.0% y/y in April, accelerating for first time in five months
  • Aussie steady after heavy losses post-RBA cut yesterday
    • Australia’s services index increased to 49.7 in April from 49.5 in March
    • See about A$90b bond sales in 2016-17, Office of Financial Management says
  • Yen drops for second day while onshore markets remain shut for public holidays through tomorrow
    • Macro selling in USD/JPY spot market since pair shot to 107.46 this morning, according to Asia-based FX trader
    • Finance Minister Aso says govt is concerned about yen movement, is monitoring speculative trades and will respond if needed; central bank governor Kuroda says BOJ will take additional easing steps if needed
    • Japan needs to use all policy levers rather than rely on just one such as monetary policy, U.S. Treasury Secretary Lew says
  • Rupiah falls for second day
    • Indonesia’s economy probably expanded 5.07% y/y in 1Q, according to median est. in Bloomberg survey; GDP and consumer confidence data due today
Alert: HALISTER1
Source: BFW (Bloomberg First Word)

People
Dennis Lockhart (Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta)
John Williams (Upland Resources Inc)

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