Asian Central Banks Retreat from Currency Intervention Amid U.S. Pressure
Asian central banks are scaling back aggressive foreign exchange interventions, wary of being labeled currency manipulators during U.S. tariff negotiations. Rajeev De Mello of GAMA Asset Management notes this shift reflects broader market turbulence since Trump's election, where tariff threats have destabilized asset prices and questioned the dollar's dominance.
Korea's recent currency talks with the U.S. briefly lifted the won, though Washington denies covert efforts to weaken the dollar. Gautam Kalani of RBC Global Asset Management suggests reduced intervention could accelerate appreciation for currencies like the Korean won and Malaysian ringgit, with traders eyeing opportunities in this new paradigm.