Asian currencies extend losses on US election bets; rupiah, ringgit lead declines
Indonesian rupiah falls 0.4%
Malaysia inflation due on Thursday
Philippine suspends currency trading due to Tropical Storm Trami
By Rajasik Mukherjee and Ayushman Ojha
Oct 23 (Reuters) -Asian currencies extended losses on Wednesday, led by the Indonesian rupiah and Malaysian ringgit as the dollar continued to strengthen on bets Donald Trump would win the U.S. presidential election, while stocks in the region were mixed.
Rising odds of Republican candidate Trump winning the Nov. 5 election have been pushing the dollar higher, while diminishing expectations for aggressive interest rate cuts by the U.S. Federal Reserve have also supported the greenback.
Malaysia's ringgit MYR=, the best performing currency in the region, shed as much as 0.4%, hitting over a one-month low.
The Indonesian rupiah IDR= lost 0.4%, while the Singapore dollar SGD= and Taiwan dollar TWD= traded largely unchanged.
"If he (Trump) reiterates that he will be imposing prohibitive tariffs on Asia, then I think market expectations for higher tariffs will certainly continue to weigh on Asian currencies throughout the quarter and even going into early next year," said Lloyd Chan, senior currency analyst at MUFG Bank.
In the forex markets, trading was thin as markets in Thailand were closed for a holiday while the Philippine central bank on Wednesday suspended currency trading and monetary operations for the day due to Tropical Storm Trami.
Stocks in the Asian emerging markets struggled for direction, as investors weighed the risks of U.S. election results.
South Korean stocks .KS11 gained 1.2% boosted by chip and auto makers, while shares in Taiwan .TWII lost 0.7%.
Indonesian stocks .JKSE edged lower while stocks in Malaysia .KLSE traded flat.
Traders will be watching out for Malaysia's inflation report due on Thursday to gauge the central bank's monetary policy. Data on Wednesday showed Singapore's key consumer price gauge rose more than economists' forecasts.
Singapore stocks .STI were up 0.5%, while stocks in Manila .PSI fell 0.8%.
Last week, the Philippine central bank reduced its key interest rate, while Bank Indonesia kept rates unchanged. Bank of Thailand, surprised markets with cut but indicated it was not the beginning of an easing cycle.
"Inflation in Asia has been less of a worry compared to some of the advanced economies in the U.S. and Europe, so what has been a constraint for Asian central banks (from cutting rates) is the weakness that we have been seeing in their currencies over the past several years," Chan said.
"So for now central banks in the region will want to wait and see the U.S. election outcomes before deciding to take the next move."
HIGHLIGHTS:
** Israel confirms death of heir apparent to slain Hezbollah leader
** China think tank proposes $280 bln stock market stabilisation fund
** IMF cuts Japan's growth forecast, projects rebound in 2025
Asian stocks and currencies as at 0426 GMT | ||||||
COUNTRY | FX RIC | FX DAILY % | FX YTD % | INDEX | STOCKS DAILY % | STOCKS YTD % |
Japan | JPY= | -0.57 | -7.15 | .N225 | -0.90 | 13.76 |
China | CNY=CFXS | -0.05 | -0.42 | .SSEC | 0.79 | 11.33 |
India | INR=IN | +0.01 | -1.02 | .NSEI | -0.23 | 12.35 |
Indonesia | IDR= | -0.35 | -1.38 | .JKSE | -0.14 | 6.95 |
Malaysia | MYR= | -0.30 | +5.81 | .KLSE | 0.05 | 12.98 |
Philippines | PHP= | - | -4.32 | .PSI | -0.80 | 14.01 |
S.Korea | KRW=KFTC | -0.14 | -6.77 | .KS11 | 1.17 | -2.05 |
Singapore | SGD= | -0.08 | +0.14 | .STI | 0.45 | 11.21 |
Taiwan | TWD=TP | -0.02 | -4.15 | .TWII | -0.71 | 30.32 |
Thailand | THB=TH | - | +2.00 | .SETI | - | 3.85 |
Graphic: World FX rates https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E
Asian stock markets https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4
Reporting by Rajasik Mukherjee & Ayushman Ojha in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonali Paul
Mga Kaugnay na Asset
Pinakabagong Balita
Disclaimer: Ang mga kabilang sa XM Group ay nagbibigay lang ng serbisyo sa pagpapatupad at pag-access sa aming Online Trading Facility, kung saan pinapahintulutan nito ang pagtingin at/o paggamit sa nilalaman na makikita sa website o sa pamamagitan nito, at walang layuning palitan o palawigin ito, at hindi din ito papalitan o papalawigin. Ang naturang pag-access at paggamit ay palaging alinsunod sa: (i) Mga Tuntunin at Kundisyon; (ii) Mga Babala sa Risk; at (iii) Kabuuang Disclaimer. Kaya naman ang naturang nilalaman ay ituturing na pangkalahatang impormasyon lamang. Mangyaring isaalang-alang na ang mga nilalaman ng aming Online Trading Facility ay hindi paglikom, o alok, para magsagawa ng anumang transaksyon sa mga pinansyal na market. Ang pag-trade sa alinmang pinansyal na market ay nagtataglay ng mataas na lebel ng risk sa iyong kapital.
Lahat ng materyales na nakalathala sa aming Online Trading Facility ay nakalaan para sa layuning edukasyonal/pang-impormasyon lamang at hindi naglalaman – at hindi dapat ituring bilang naglalaman – ng payo at rekomendasyon na pangpinansyal, tungkol sa buwis sa pag-i-invest, o pang-trade, o tala ng aming presyo sa pag-trade, o alok para sa, o paglikom ng, transaksyon sa alinmang pinansyal na instrument o hindi ginustong pinansyal na promosyon.
Sa anumang nilalaman na galing sa ikatlong partido, pati na ang mga nilalaman na inihanda ng XM, ang mga naturang opinyon, balita, pananaliksik, pag-analisa, presyo, ibang impormasyon o link sa ibang mga site na makikita sa website na ito ay ibibigay tulad ng nandoon, bilang pangkalahatang komentaryo sa market at hindi ito nagtataglay ng payo sa pag-i-invest. Kung ang alinmang nilalaman nito ay itinuring bilang pananaliksik sa pag-i-invest, kailangan mong isaalang-alang at tanggapin na hindi ito inilaan at inihanda alinsunod sa mga legal na pangangailangan na idinisenyo para maisulong ang pagsasarili ng pananaliksik sa pag-i-invest, at dahil dito ituturing ito na komunikasyon sa marketing sa ilalim ng mga kaugnay na batas at regulasyon. Mangyaring siguruhin na nabasa at naintindihan mo ang aming Notipikasyon sa Hindi Independyenteng Pananaliksik sa Pag-i-invest at Babala sa Risk na may kinalaman sa impormasyong nakalagay sa itaas, na maa-access dito.
