Asia's currencies find respite in retreating US yields

Asia's emerging currencies found some respite on Tuesday as the dollar dipped to a near two-week low and US bond yields retreated, with Malaysia's ringgit and South Korea's won leading gains in the region.

Stock markets were more mixed, with shares in Taiwan rising 1% following a market holiday on Monday, while in Malaysia and Singapore shares were down less than half a percent.

The dollar's losses come even as data showed a gauge of US services activity hit a record high in March, and Friday's bumper jobs report, opening a cautious door to questions as to how much further the greenback and US yields can go.

"While the market was caught wrong-footed at the start of the year, it is not as convincing to argue that dollar rates are now overly low," Eugene Leow, a DBS rates strategist said in a note.

"We are wary of frontloading Fed hikes; the Fed is unlikely to hike before 2023, in our view," Leow added.

The dollar has risen sharply so far this year, enjoying its best quarter in nearly three years, as the US economy outperforms the world thanks to ultra-loose monetary policy, large fiscal packages and an aggressive vaccination campaign.

All that has helped raise the yield on 10-year Treasuries to pre-pandemic levels, sapping appetite for Asia's risk-sensitive assets and raising questions whether the Federal Reserve can stick to its pledge to keep interest rates steady through 2023.

On Wednesday, the Fed will release minutes of its March meeting, though will not include recent strong data points.

Indian shares opened lower on Tuesday, extending Monday's sharp decline after the country breached the grim milestone of 100,000 daily infections.

Many Indian state leaders have asked the prime minister to open up vaccinations to most of the country's hundreds of millions of adults given the spike in infections and as fresh restrictions go into force in parts.

The Reserve Bank of India will end its policy meeting on Wednesday, where the focus will be on commentary as rates are expected to remain unchanged.

"We think the RBI will be open-ended on its accommodative stance, with comments highlighting that it will be maintained until recovery can be self-sustaining," TD Securities said in a client note.

"Anything more hawkish could hurt the bond market at a fragile time."

In the Philippines, dealing with its own COVID-19 spike, shares were up half a percent and the peso flat.

Inflation eased for the first time in six months in March, though it remained above the central bank's target range for the year. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor said current monetary policy settings remained appropriate.

Thai markets were closed for a public holiday.

HIGHLIGHTS:

** Indonesian 10-year benchmark yields rose 4.3 basis points to 6.661%.

** In the Philippines, Universal Robina Corp and Jollibee Foods Corp led gains.