Need for Safety Weakens Asian Currencies

The earthquake in Japan, that boosted attractiveness of the yen, at the same time curbed appeal of other Asian currencies, including the Malaysian ringgit.

The earthquake added to concerns that the global economic growth may slow as the Asian economies showed the signs of some weakness. The concerns were further bolstered the continuing conflict in Libya and the tensions in Saudi Arabia.

USD/MYR traded at 3.0400 as of 10:47 GMT today after it opened at 3.0380.

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Brazilian Real Trades at Record Low on Obama’s Speech

The Brazilian currency was affected by a new wave of risk aversion after U.S. President Barack Obama proposed new regulations for financial instituitions in the country, raising concerns among traders that avoided emerging markets this Thursday.

Emerging market currencies like the real ranked among the worst performers today after a White House statement indicating that banks in the U.S. are likely to follow a tighter police regarding its financial transactions and investments, declining risk appetite and forcing traders to opt for safer bets in currency markets.

USD/BRL closed today at 1.8025, the lowest rate in 4 months from an opening rate of 1.7895.

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Loonie Starts Week Bearish on Copper, Stocks

The Canadian currency didn’t manage to continue its last week rally as stocks and commodities markets had a less optimistic performance this Monday, setting the loonie down versus its U.S. counterpart and the Japanese yen.

As stocks operated near neutrality and metallic commodities, like the copper, went down today, The Canadian currency retreated from its highest level in February versus lower-yielding currencies, as the market sentiment in Europe, once again affected by the region’s budget crisis, is declining appetite for riskier assets in North American trading markets in the beginning of this week.

USD/CAD traded at 1.0424 as of 16:22 GMT from an opening rate of 1.0384 yesterday. CAD/JPY traded at 87.42 from 88.05.

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Yen Declines on EU-Greece Rescue Plan

The yen was the most affected currency by a new wave of optimism started by EU officials statements suggesting that the bloc will help Greece financially to solve its public debt issues, losing specially versus higher-yielding currencies and the euro.

The Japanese currency started this Wednesday continuing its losing trend initiated yesterday by renewed optimism that Greece fiscal crisis will end sooner than expected as the European Union signaled its intentions to inject money in the country’s accounts, as long as it follows measures necessary to tighten its massive public deficit.

AUD/JPY traded at 78.73 as of 02:23 AM from a previous intraday rate of 77.30.

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Canadian Dollar Falls Despite Positive GDP

The Canadian dollar ended another week declining versus its U.S. counterpart and lower-yielding currencies despite a report showing that the nation’s economy grew for another month, as the U.S. GDP report had more impact in markets globally.

Even if a report showed that Canada’s gross domestic product rose for a third consecutive month in November 2009, the loonie declined versus the greenback as a report indicated that the U.S. economy expanded more than forecasts suggested in the last quarter of 2009, making the U.S. dollar to touch the highest level in 2010 versus its Canadian counterpart.

USD/CAD traded at 1.0697 as of 21:37 GMT from a previous intraday rate of 1.0654.

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Dollar Advances on Fed Hawkish Tone

The U.S. dollar advanced versus several key currencies after a Federal Reserve statement announcing that a number of stimulus to help the economic recovery will be lifted, as according to central bankers, the economy is already showing enough evidences of improvements to allow these measures.

The greenback gained after a Federal Reserve monetary policy statement published today showed optimism with hawkish attitudes from central bank officials, since several measures used to revive the U.S. economy from the worst recession in decades will expire and not be extended, allowing the dollar to touch the highest level in 6 months versus the euro.

EUR/USD traded at 1.4021 from a previous intraday rate of 1.4077.

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Brazil Real Remains Near 2010 Record Low

The Brazilian real continued to be influenced by bearish equities and commodities markets and did not manage to pare gains after falling during the most of the time last week.

Brazil is one of the main metallic commodity exporters in the world, and uncertainty brought by U.S. and Chinese statements regarding new financial regulations for loans in both countries still impacted market sentiment today, decreasing demand for raw materials and riskier assets globally, forcing the real to trade near the lowest price in 2010 reached last Friday.

USD/BRL closed today at 1.8240 from an opening rate of 1.8155.

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