Asian Currencies Tick Up as Dollar Slides on Tariff Delay

Asian currencies eked out small gains on Monday, with the U.S. dollar extending its pullback after President Trump postponed 50% tariffs on EU imports from June 1 to July 9. The Chinese yuan strengthened to a six-month high, while other regional FX pairs saw muted upside amid ongoing trade jitters.

Dollar Index Sinks as Tariff Deadline Moves

The U.S. Dollar Index fell 0.3% in Asian hours to its lowest point in over a month, with Dollar Index Futures mirroring the decline. Trump's decision, reached after a call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, reflects renewed trade negotiations—news that dented safe-haven demand for the greenback.

For real-time FX rate tracking and historical patterns, investors can consult the Forex Daily API, which provides up-to-the-minute cross-currency data across major Asian pairs.

Asian FX Performance Snapshot

• USD/JPY: down 0.1%, as traders anticipate Tokyo-Washington trade talks in early June.

• USD/CNY: edged down 0.1%, pushing the onshore yuan to its strongest level since November 2024.

• AUD/USD: up 0.3%, supported by risk appetite and dovish central bank expectations.

• USD/MYR: down 0.5%; USD/KRW: down 0.1%; USD/SGD: down 0.3%; USD/INR: down 0.2%.

While the greenback's retreat offers relief, persistent tariff uncertainty capped gains across the region.

Watch the Calendar for Trade Developments

Traders remain cautious ahead of key policy events, including Japanese trade talks in Washington and the Senate vote on the U.S. tax-cut bill, which the CBO estimates will add $3.8 trillion to the national debt over ten years.

Stay ahead of these catalysts with the Economics Calendar API, which highlights upcoming speeches, tariff deadlines, and fiscal votes that could sway FX markets.