Last week, the Bank of Korea said household debt growth and rising home prices were key factors the central bank was watching, as it opened the door for rate cuts after keeping the policy rate unchanged at 3.50%, the highest since late 2008, for the 12th straight meeting.
At $1.0929 the common currency was pinned near Wednesday’s four-month peak ahead of a meeting where rates are all but certain to be left steady and focus is on whether policymakers support market bets of a rate cut in September.
Additionally gold saw increased safe haven demand after a Bloomberg report said the U.S. was considering stricter trade restrictions on China, especially against the country’s technology and chipmaking sectors.
Bitcoin had rebounded from near four-month lows in the past few sessions, as the prospect of a Donald Trump presidency saw traders pricing in the potential for a much friendlier regulatory environment.
Chip stocks in Asia tumbled on Thursday while their European counterparts got off to a tentative start after a news report that the United States was considering tighter curbs on exports of advanced semiconductor technology to China.
