investingLive Asia-Pacific FX news wrap: Yen continued to strengthen

Rupee firms after suspected RBI FX interventionHedge funds boost yen bets as buy Japan trade strengthens — BloombergTokyo keeps intervention risk alive as yen swings. Mimura recap.Precious metals retreat after US payroll surpriseLunar New Year 2026: Mainland China markets are scheduled to be closed February 16–23PBOC sets USD/ CNY reference rate for today at 6.9457 (vs. estimate at 6.9153)Japan January wholesale inflation slows to 2.3% as import prices riseJapan’s Mimura says watching FX with urgency, flags close US contactUK January RICS house price balance improves to -10, beating forecastsJapan January 2026 wholesale inflation. PPI 2.3% y/y (vs. expected 2.3%)US House passes 219–211 resolution to end Trump’s Canada tariffs (there is a but …)Bullock: higher AUD and rates will cool demand, RBA open to more hikes if neededSCMP: Trump and Xi to extend trade truce at April Beijing summitFed’s Hammack says rates near neutral, backs hold stance and flags US debt risksReserve Bank of Australia Governor Bullock speaking in parliamentJ.P. Morgan sees silver at $81/oz in 2026 after 130% surgeFed’s Hammack says unemployment stabilising but inflation still too highFurther news of US readying second aircraft carrier as Iran nuclear talks face pressureinvestingLive Americas market news wrap: Non-farm payrolls blasts through expectationsAt a glance:SCMP reports Trump and Xi may extend trade truce by up to a year at April Beijing summit.US House passes resolution against Trump’s Canada tariffs, but Senate/veto hurdles loom.Japan reiterates FX vigilance as yen strengthens below 152.50.RBA’s Bullock keeps hike option open, flags productivity constraint.RBI seen intervening to support rupee before open.Nikkei hits record highs before trimming gains on yen strength.The South China Morning Post reported that US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are poised to extend their trade truce by up to a year at an April meeting in Beijing, citing people familiar with discussions. The prospect of a longer ceasefire in tariff tensions offered a stabilising backdrop for risk sentiment.In Washington, the U.S. House passed a resolution disapproving of Trump’s tariffs on Canada in a 219–211 vote. Several Republicans crossed the aisle in a rare rebuke of the president’s trade policy, while one Democrat opposed the measure. The resolution must clear the Senate and overcome a likely presidential veto before taking effect, meaning the practical impact is limited, well zero, for now.In FX, Japan’s top currency diplomat Mimura reiterated that authorities are watching markets with a “high sense of urgency” and have not lowered their guard. He declined to comment on specific levels but stressed close coordination with US officials, keeping intervention risk in the background. The yen extended gains, with USD/JPY dipping under 152.50. The dollar was otherwise marginally firmer in tight ranges.Data showed Japan’s January wholesale inflation eased to 2.3% y/y, while yen-based import prices rose 0.5%, underscoring ongoing currency-driven cost pressures.In Australia, RBA Governor Bullock said higher rates and a stronger AUD should help cool demand. She warned growth above 2% would be difficult without productivity gains and left the door open to further tightening if inflation proves entrenched.India’s central bank was seen selling dollars ahead of the open, lifting the rupee to 90.46.Equities were volatile. The Nikkei briefly traded above 58,000 for the first time before paring gains as yen strength persisted.
Asia-Pac
stocks:
Japan
(Nikkei 225) +0.25%Hong
Kong (Hang Seng) -0.89%
Shanghai
Composite +0.12%Australia
(S&P/ASX 200) +0.20%
This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at investinglive.com.

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