SINGAPORE/TOKYO- The dollar softened on Thursday as traders assessed the US interest rates outlook in the wake of comments from Federal Reserve officials that cemented expectation of monetary settings remaining restrictive for a while longer.
The yen, meanwhile, briefly strengthened as Japan’s top currency diplomat Masato Kanda said finance leaders of the G7 reaffirmed their stance that excessive currency volatility was undesirable.
The greenback has been rising in recent weeks as strong US economic data and persistent inflation dashed expectation of near-term rate cuts. Tensions in the Middle East have also added to the dollar’s safe-asset appeal.
Dollar strength has cast a shadow across currency markets, keeping the yen rooted near 34-year lows and leading to several warnings from Japanese authorities as traders fret about possible intervention. Emerging-market currencies have also been under pressure.
The US Japan and South Korea agreed to “consult closely” on foreign exchange markets in their first trilateral finance dialogue on Wednesday, in a nod to concerns from Tokyo and Seoul over their currencies’ recent sharp declines.
“The statement is likely intended to rein in markets and raises the possibility of a joint market intervention if JPY and KRW are to weaken further against the USD,” said Wei Liang Chang, a currency and credit strategist at DBS.
The Japanese currency strengthened to 153.96 on Thursday, after Kanda told reporters of the G7 finance leaders’ agreement to reaffirm their commitment on currency moves.
It last stood at 154.345, not far from the 34-year low of 154.79 touched on Tuesday.
Market participants have raised the bar on possible intervention by Japanese authorities to prop up the yen, now pinpointing the 155 level from 152 previously, even if they believed Japan could step in at any time.
