Most emerging Asian currencies edged lower on Friday after US President Donald Trump tempered speculation of an imminent missile attack on Syria, lending support to the dollar. The dollar index against a basket of six major currencies was a shade higher at 89.758. It rose 0.2 percent the previous day, ending a four-day losing streak.
Trump said in a tweet on Thursday that a possible attack on Syria could occur "very soon or not so soon at all," soothing fears of confrontation with Russia, and lifting US Treasury yields as well as financial stocks. Trump has also asked his trade advisers to look at re-joining the Trans Pacific Partnership, a multinational trade pact he withdrew the country from early last year.
Among Asian currencies, the Taiwan dollar hit more than an 8-week low, down as much as 0.3 percent and on track for its second weekly session of losses. It was the worst performer in the region. The South Korean won lost as much as 0.2 percent, while the Malaysian ringgit inched down 0.1 percent.
The ringgit is headed for its third straight week of losses. Meanwhile, the Philippine peso, the Indian rupee and the Indonesian rupiah posted marginal gains.
China's yuan was little changed. While data showed exports unexpectedly fell in March, they posted solid growth for the first-quarter as a whole. China's trade surplus with the United States soared nearly 20 percent in the quarter, however, which could add to already heated trade tensions with Washington. Markets in Thailand were closed for a holiday.
The Singapore dollar edged up 0.1 percent, after the central bank tightened monetary policy for the first time in six years on Friday, saying the economy is expected to continue growing steadily. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said it would slightly increase the slope of the Singapore dollar's policy band from zero percent previously, while keeping the width and mid-point of the band unchanged.
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