Asian currencies gained ground against a weaker dollar on Wednesday as moves to ease coronavirus-driven restrictions in several countries boosted risk appetite, while upbeat factory data lifted the South Korean won.
Investors are growing confident that the pandemic may be peaking as parts of the United States, Europe and Australia gradually ease restrictions while New Zealand this week allowed some businesses to reopen.
The coronavirus outbreak has so far claimed 216,667 lives globally and infected more than 3.11 million people, according to a Reuters tally.
As investors leaned toward riskier assets, the dollar slipped 0.2% against a basket of currencies.
Market participants remained wary on the dollar ahead of advanced estimates for first-quarter US economic growth and the Federal Reserve's policy decision.
"It is more likely that the Fed will merely assess the policy actions that have been announced, and possibly streamline or clarify the plethora of facilities set up," Mizuho bank said in a note.
The Fed has pumped trillions of dollars in emergency funding into financial markets to stem the damage from the pandemic.
The Indian rupee gained about 0.6% and hit its strongest level since April 7.
The South Korean won firmed 0.5% on the back of strong March factory output.
Industrial output jumped by the most in 11 years last month as demand for display panels and cars received an unexpected boost from lengthy shutdowns in competing Chinese factories amid the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Vice Finance Minister Kim Yong-beom said the monthly trade balance reading could swing to a deficit in April for the first time since 2012.
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