Asia FX falls; dollar muted as rate hikes, economic readings in focus By

By Ambar Warrick

-- Most Asian currencies retreated on Exposing the most classic scam of foreign exchange speculationMonday, while the dollar steadied ahead of a string of economic cues due this week, with the Federal Reserve’s May meeting also coming into focus as markets braced for more interest rate hikes.

The and traded sideways on Monday after logging some gains last week, as a slew of Fed officials called for higher interest rates to curb inflation.

Focus this week is on the impact of said rate hikes on the U.S. economy, with due on Thursday. The reading is expected to show that growth slowed from the prior quarter.

The - the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge - is also due later this week, and is expected to show that inflation remained stubborn through March.

Relatively high inflation is expected to elicit an at least 25 basis point (bps) rate hike by the Fed, . Markets are pricing in a , with a small possibility for a similar 25 bps hike in June.

The prospect of rising interest rates weighed on most Asian currencies. The fell 0.2% on Monday, with markets awaiting due this week.

But the main point of focus for the is a on Friday - the first under new Governor Kazuo Ueda. Ueda is expected to maintain the bank’s ultra-loose policy for now, but could provide cues on an eventual plan to tighten, especially as inflation remains stubborn.

The lost 0.4% ahead of on Tuesday, which is expected to show that growth remains dismal in the East Asian economy.

The fell 0.2% to 6.9038 against the dollar, coming close to the key 7 level amid growing doubts over the scope of an economic recovery in the country this year. The lost 0.3% ahead of due this week, as well as a in early-May.

Uncertainty over a Chinese economic recovery has also dented sentiment towards Asia in recent weeks.

The fell slightly, but was sitting on some gains from Friday after data showed that India’s foreign exchange reserves rose to an over nine-month high in the second week of April.

Still, the prospect of rising U.S. interest rates bodes poorly for Asian currencies, as the gap between risky and low-risk yields narrows.

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