JAKARTA, Aug 31 (Reuters): Emerging Asian currencies rose on Monday as quickening growth in China's services sector supported recovery prospects in the region and added to positive sentiment around the US Federal Reserve's accommodative stance last week.
Taiwan's dollar was set for its best day since March 20 while the Thai baht and Indonesia's rupiah also firmed by 0420 GMT, with investors taking a liking to the Fed's new strategy favouring higher inflation and growth.
The historic shift in the US central bank's stance is being interpreted as signalling lower interest rates over a long period of time - a view held by Mizuho analysts, who say this may correspond to a softer greenback.
"A weaker USD and asset market boost from 'lower for longer rates' are likely to be positive for EM Asia FX and assets," they said, but warned that any sustained steepening of the US Treasury yield curve could be a significant headwind.
With little domestic news to drive moves, the market focused on China's service sector activity which expanded at a much faster pace in August although factory growth was slower due to floods.
Thai shares and trade-reliant Singapore stocks added 0.4% and 0.3%, respectively.
Stocks in Indonesia eased as much as 0.2% before trading flat, as a more infectious mutation of the new coronavirus was found in the country and daily new infections remained above the past month's daily average.
With markets in Malaysia and the Philippines shut for a holiday, dealers looked ahead to speeches this week from Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Richard Clarida and others before making further bets.
"It is likely that investors will still be looking for more colour on the implementation and timing of forward guidance," Morgan Stanley analysts said of the upcoming addresses.
"Unless these upcoming speeches provide significant incremental colour versus what was already revealed during the Jackson Hole symposium, we would not expect them to have a meaningful impact on emerging market currencies. - Reuters
Taiwan's dollar was set for its best day since March 20 while the Thai baht and Indonesia's rupiah also firmed by 0420 GMT, with investors taking a liking to the Fed's new strategy favouring higher inflation and growth.
The historic shift in the US central bank's stance is being interpreted as signalling lower interest rates over a long period of time - a view held by Mizuho analysts, who say this may correspond to a softer greenback.
"A weaker USD and asset market boost from 'lower for longer rates' are likely to be positive for EM Asia FX and assets," they said, but warned that any sustained steepening of the US Treasury yield curve could be a significant headwind.
With little domestic news to drive moves, the market focused on China's service sector activity which expanded at a much faster pace in August although factory growth was slower due to floods.
Thai shares and trade-reliant Singapore stocks added 0.4% and 0.3%, respectively.
Stocks in Indonesia eased as much as 0.2% before trading flat, as a more infectious mutation of the new coronavirus was found in the country and daily new infections remained above the past month's daily average.
With markets in Malaysia and the Philippines shut for a holiday, dealers looked ahead to speeches this week from Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Richard Clarida and others before making further bets.
"It is likely that investors will still be looking for more colour on the implementation and timing of forward guidance," Morgan Stanley analysts said of the upcoming addresses.
"Unless these upcoming speeches provide significant incremental colour versus what was already revealed during the Jackson Hole symposium, we would not expect them to have a meaningful impact on emerging market currencies. - Reuters
Already a subscriber? Log in
Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Unlimited access with perks.
