Key Takeaways:
- 💱 Most Asian currencies stabilized despite a falling dollar amid uncertainty over U.S. interest rates
- 📉 Dollar index and futures decreased in Asian trade after comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell
- 📈 Japanese yen remained steady with USDJPY close to 34-year highs, raising concerns about potential government intervention
- 🎑 Broader Asian currencies traded flat to high, impacted by Chinese market holidays and anticipation of U.S. interest rate cues
- 💸 Australian dollar and South Korean won pairs rose slightly, while Singapore dollar and Indian rupee pairs remained stable
- 🇮🇳 Reserve Bank of India meeting on Friday expected to keep rates unchanged, with focus on inflation and economic growth ahead of the 2024 election
- 💰 Sanofi is settling around 4K Zantac cancer lawsuits in the U.S. to avoid expenses and distraction
- ⚖️ The settlement does not imply admission of liability on Sanofi’s part
- 📈 Financial impact of settlement is deemed minimal by the company
- 🚫 FDA had previously ordered the removal of ranitidine from Zantac due to cancer concerns
- 🔬 Sanofi maintains there is insufficient evidence to link Zantac with cancer
- 🌏 Emerging Asian stocks fell on Wednesday
- 💰 Taiwan benchmark index slumps after earthquake
- 📉 Indonesia rupiah hovers near four-year low
- 🏢 Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co shares fall after facilities evacuated
- 🇨🇱 Chile’s central bank cuts key interest rate
- 📉 Thai baht among worst performers in Asia so far this year
- 📉 DBS Group Holdings Ltd about to go ex-dividend
- 💵 Dollar appreciation and gold anomalies discussed in financial markets
- 📉 Shares of Intel slide after SEC filing reveals operating loss
- 🇨🇳 Chinese yuan remained weak, with USDCNH pair still above 7.2 level
Asian Markets Update
Asian markets saw a mix of stability and fluctuation amidst various regional and global factors. Asian currencies, for the most part, remained stable despite a falling dollar and uncertainty surrounding U.S. interest rates. However, there were pockets of impact, such as the Japanese yen holding steady at 34-year highs and concerns over potential government intervention. The performance of the Australian dollar and South Korean won showed slight rises, while the Singapore dollar and Indian rupee pairs remained stable.
On the other hand, Sanofi’s settlement of Zantac cancer lawsuits in the U.S. aimed to avoid expenses and distraction for the company. Despite the settlement, Sanofi maintained that there is insufficient evidence to link Zantac with cancer. Meanwhile, Taiwan’s benchmark index slumped after an earthquake, and Indonesia’s rupiah hovered near a four-year low. Additionally, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co shares fell following the evacuation of facilities.
In the financial sector, there were discussions around the impact of dollar appreciation and gold anomalies on the markets. The central bank of Chile cut its key interest rate, while shares of Intel slid after an SEC filing revealed an operating loss. Overall, Asian markets navigated through various challenges and developments, showcasing both resilience and vulnerability in the face of economic fluctuations and uncertainties.