Asian currencies weakened, with the Indonesian rupiah striking a 10-month low against a broadly stronger dollar, after a strong readiong for US factory activity bolstered expectations that US interest rates will rise by the year-end. The dollar index against a basket of six major rivals was up 0.3 percent at 93.848 after touching 93.891, its highest since August 17.
Among Asian currencies, the Singapore dollar slipped to its lowest in about seven weeks as oil prices dipped on oversupply concerns. The Indian rupee lost up to 0.6 percent ahead of a Reserve Bank of India policy meeting this week, with the central bank expected to stay pat on its policy rate as inflation surged to a five-month high.
The Thai baht also dropped, touching a near 11-week low. The strength of the baht remains a risk, the Thai National Shippers' Council said in a statement after stating that exports were expected to notch grwoth of up to at least 6 percent this year. Taiwan dollar fell to an over ten-week low.
South Korea and China markets were closed for a national holiday. Indonesian rupiah touched its lowest level in 2017 as stronger US yields and stability in the US market made bonds in Indonesia vulnerable. "It is hard to sell the bonds right away so people sell the rupiah as a hedge since that is a more liquid market than the bond market," said Sean Yokota, head of Asia strategy at Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken said.
"I also think Indonesia cut interest rates too much and the lower real yield makes the currency weaker." In September, the central bank slashed its key policy rate for a second straight month as it sought to help sluggish lending and consumption.
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