Indonesia’s rupiah led gains across Asia’s risk-sensitive currencies on Friday after US inflation data was enough to convince investors that the rise in prices may be temporary.
South Korea’s won and Thailand’s baht gained around 0.5 percent as the dollar nursed small losses following the report. Traders in Asia had been cautious all week as they watched for any signal in the data that may prompt the Federal Reserve to discuss early tapering of its massive stimulus.
US Treasury yields fell to lows not seen since early March at one point in Asian trade, with traders saying short-covering was driving the rally.
“With the global market backdrop turning more constructive for bond investments, investors may re-focus on yield differentials,” OCBC Bank analysts said in a note.
Asia’s emerging market currencies and bonds, though considered riskier, traditionally yield more than their peers in developed markets.
The yield on Indonesia’s 10-year bonds, which offer one of the highest returns in emerging markets, fell to its lowest since mid-February before rebounding to levels seen earlier this week.
With US inflation data out of the way, focus will now turn to the Fed’s policy meeting next week, which will happen alongside meetings by central banks of Indonesia, Taiwan and Japan.
Stocks markets in the region also largely gained, with South Korea leading the way with a 0.8 percent rise, while Thailand, the Philippines and others rose no more than half a percent.
In a sign of confidence, the Thai central bank allowed banks to pay interim dividends, saying they have sufficient capital to deal with the impact of COVID-19 outbreaks. The country’s top banks were up around 1 percent.
In Singapore, shares were roughly flat and the local dollar marginally higher.
