Emerging Asian currencies were set to end the week in the red on Friday, with the Philippines’ peso hitting a record low, after US data bolstered the Federal Reserve’s stance on policy tightening and pushed the dollar to a two-decade high.
The peso dropped 0.3% and was on track to lose 1.1% this week.
It touched 56.880 per dollar on Friday, its weakest level ever.
Thailand’s baht depreciated 0.3% and was the weakest-performing currency for the week, set to decline 2.2%. Meanwhile, Indonesia’s rupiah and Malaysia’s ringgit fell 0.1% each and South Korea’s won dropped 0.2%.
Market sentiment for riskier assets continued to be dented as the dollar index firmed at a new 20-year peak on Thursday, helped by the outlook for higher US interest rates.
A government report showed the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits had fallen to a two-month low last week, while data also showed US manufacturing had grown steadily in August as employment and new orders rebounded.
“Markets are now expecting 80% chance of a +75bps (basis points) hike from Fed in September,” analysts at Maybank wrote.
“Notwithstanding the uncertainties in US data further out, (emerging market) Asia is looking at a combination of potentially higher and longer-drawn domestic rate hiking cycle and rising external growth headwinds,” ANZ analysts said in a note.
Investors will now focus on the US August nonfarm payrolls report due later in the day.
Lockdowns and strict COVID-19 restrictions in several Chinese cities also weighed on emerging Asia.
China - the world’s second-largest economy and the region’s biggest trading partner - announced a lockdown in Chengdu on Thursday, while southern technology hub Shenzhen suspended large events and widened its COVID curbs.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s main inflation rate slowed in August for the first time in seven months and came in below forecasts, but details of the price data released on Friday reinforced views that inflation would stay elevated for a while.
Among stock markets, Taiwan’s benchmark index dropped 0.4% and led declines.
Asian currencies wilt, South Korean won leads losses after trade data
Equities in Singapore retreated 0.3%, while stocks in Manila and Jakarta advanced 0.6% and 0.5%, respectively.
Highlights:
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South Korea president: not too worried about external financial standing
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Venture Corp and Comfortdelgro Corp among top losers on Singapore’s benchmark index
The following table shows rates for Asian currencies against the dollar at 0331 GMT.
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