Investing.com-- Asian currencies were mixed on Thursday, with the yen gaining on potential tariff negotiations between Japan and the U.S., while the South Korean won slipped after data showed unexpected contraction in the country’s first-quarter GDP.
The US Dollar Index, which measures the greenback against a basket of major currencies, fell 0.3% after a sharp rebound from a three-year low in the previous session.
Japanese yen gains on reports of trade talks, removal of auto tariffs
Japan’s Economy Minister Ryosei Akazawa will visit Washington from April 30 to May 2 to engage in a second round of negotiations concerning U.S. tariffs on Japanese goods, according to media reports published Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump is planning to exempt carmakers from certain tariffs tied to Chinese imports and metals.
Japan currently faces a 25% U.S. tariff on automobiles and a paused 24% duty on certain steel products.
These recent developments eased some concerns around trade tensions, pushing the yen higher.
The Japanese yen’s USD/JPY fell 0.4% on Thursday.
Asia FX muted, Chinese yuan lower as investors seek clarity on tariffs
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday that high U.S.-China tariffs are unsustainable, as the Trump administration signaled willingness to ease trade tensions.
A day earlier, Trump also expressed optimism over potential trade negotiations with China. He said a potential deal could lead to a “substantial” reduction in tariffs. But "it won’t be zero," he added.
The Chinese yuan’s onshore USD/CNY pair rose 0.2%, while the offshore pair USDCNH also inched up 0.2%.
Other regional currencies were largely muted as they were still cautious about the outcome of Trump’s trade policies.
The Australian dollar’s AUD/USD inched 0.1% lower.
The Singapore dollar’s USD/SGD was largely muted, while the Indian rupee’s USD/INR pair inched up 0.2%.
The Malaysian ringgit’s USD/MYR pair was unchanged, while the Philippine peso’s USD/PHP ticked 0.1% higher.
Won slips after S. Korea’s Q1 GDP contracts unexpectedly
The South Korean won’s USD/KRW pair rose 0.3% on Thursday.
Preliminary data on Thursday showed that South Korea’s economy unexpectedly contracted in the first quarter of 2025, weighed down by political unrest in the country and concerns around U.S. trade polices.
Gross domestic product contracted 0.2% quarter-on-quarter, in contrast with expectations of a steady 0.1% rise.
Year-on-year GDP shrank 0.1%, also missing estimates of 0.2% growth, and reversed from a 1.2% rise in the fourth quarter of 2024.