0250 GMT - The Singapore dollar consolidates against its U.S. counterpart in the Asian session as traders track Middle East developments. The "U.S.-Iran dialogue remains intact despite inconclusive talks in Islamabad, even as a U.S. blockade on Iranian ports begins," analysts of CIMB's Treasury and Markets Research say in a research report. "Sources indicate that U.S. officials are internally discussing details for a potential second in-person meeting before the cease-fire expires," the analysts add. The current cease-fire is due to end on April 21. The U.S. dollar is little changed at 1.2734 Singapore dollars, LSEG data show. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)

0224 GMT - Singapore's move to tighten its currency policy, despite softening domestic growth, signals that global central banks are being forced to lean hawkish as the oil shock ripples through supply chains, eToro analyst Zavier Wong says in a note. If the Hormuz disruption persists, further tightening remains very much on the table, Wong adds, noting that a stronger Singapore dollar helps reduce import costs but offers limited support for growth.(venkat.pr@wsj.com)

0216 GMT - As the mechanism where wages and inflation rise in tandem becomes more active in Japan, there is a growing sense that the Bank of Japan is already behind the curve in its policy response, says Okasan Securities economist Ko Nakayama. It is important for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's administration to allow the central bank to walk the path toward interest rate hikes, rather than masking inflationary pressures through large-scale subsidies and consumption tax reductions, he adds. Amid high uncertainty over the situation in the Middle East, the overnight index swap market is pricing in a roughly 40% chance of an April rate increase.(megumi.fujikawa@wsj.com)

0210 GMT - The Bank of Thailand is expected to maintain its policy rate at 1.00% through 2026, Barclays economists say in a note. BOT Gov. Vitai Ratanakorn said recently that the central bank will keep the current policy rate for "as long as possible" and "refrain from raising interest rates," Barclays notes. The central bank is likely more concerned about the Middle East conflict's impact on Thailand's growth, than it is about higher inflation. "The BOT has previously stated its preference to look through the supply shock and consequent rise in inflation," Barclays says.(amanda.lee@wsj.com)

0203 GMT - China's credit demand still faces pressure, according to BofA Securities economists in a research note. March credit data suggest households and firms remain cautious on new lending. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East also adds uncertainty, they note. "While we expect manufacturing and infrastructure investment demand to strengthen on the back of resilient exports and continued support from policy financing tools, credit demand still remains weak," they say. In addition, improved secondary home sales in tier-1 cities, especially Shanghai, haven't boosted broader property activity or mortgage demand yet, they say. (tracy.qu@wsj.com)

0141 GMT - China's yuan is "relatively insulated" from Middle East events, thanks to the country's "relatively light energy import burden," RBC Capital Markets' Abbas Keshvani says in a research report. China's net oil and gas imports amounts to 1.7% of GDP, the Asia macro strategist estimates. The yuan also benefits from safe-haven bids for Chinese government bonds, Keshvani says, adding that China's low inflation and accommodative monetary policy have kept bond yields anchored at around 1.8%. RBC Capital Markets forecasts the dollar at 6.8200 yuan in 2Q, 6.8000 yuan in 3Q, and 6.7800 yuan in 4Q. The dollar is 0.1% lower at 6.8207 against onshore yuan, LSEG data show. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)

0030 GMT - Asian currencies consolidate against the dollar as traders eye a U.S.-Iran developments. President Trump said the "right people" in Iran still want a U.S.-Iran deal after talks in Pakistan over the weekend ended without an agreement. However, neither the U.S. nor Iran has publicly committed to another round of negotiations, CBA's Carol Kong says in a research report. The U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will probably "test the durability of the fragile cease-fire and threatens to push the USD back up if the cease-fire collapses," the economist and currency strategist adds. The dollar falls 0.2% to 159.18 yen, but is little changed at 1,478.60 won and is flat at 1.2732 Singapore dollar, LSEG data show. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)

0022 GMT - Japanese stocks are higher following overnight gains on Wall Street even as caution continues over the Middle East conflict. Chip and metals stocks are leading gains. Kioxia Holdings is up 14%, Advantest is 7.0% higher and JX Advanced Metals is up 6.1%. Investors are closely watching developments in the Middle East after U.S. military forces began blockading maritime traffic attempting to enter and leave Iranian ports. The dollar is at 159.16 yen, compared with Y159.67 as of Monday's Tokyo stock market close. The Nikkei Stock Average is up 2.2% at 57730.50. (kosaku.narioka@wsj.com; @kosakunarioka)

0019 GMT - JGBs edge higher in price terms in the early Tokyo session, ahead of Japanese Finance Ministry's auction today of about 700 billion yen in 20-year JGBs. "The super-long sector has been relatively robust when investors are loath to add duration risk, and performance at auctions has not been bad," Citi Research's Tomohisa Fujiki says in a research report. "In addition to the decline in net supply, expectations for rate hikes have flattened the curve," the rates strategist says. The 20-year sale will likely be "digested smoothly," Fujiki adds. The five-year JGB yield is down 0.5 bp at 1.865%. (ronnie.harui@wsj.com)

2349 GMT - Japanese stocks may rise following overnight gains on Wall Street. Nikkei futures are up 2.0% at 57665 on the SGX. Investors are focusing on developments in the Middle East after U.S. military forces began blockading maritime traffic attempting to enter and leave Iranian ports. Crude oil prices are also being closely watched. The dollar is at 159.24 yen, compared with Y159.67 as of Monday's Tokyo stock market close. The Nikkei Stock Average fell 0.7% to 56502.77 on Monday. (kosaku.narioka@wsj.com)

2319 GMT - Canaccord Genuity thinks it's time to add exposure to uranium equities. "Uranium is a high-beta sector but, in our view, should be a beneficiary of the increased focus on energy security which is not being reflected in stocks," the broker says. Share prices currently imply an average value of US$88/pound, it says. That compares to term prices of roughly US$90-US$93/pound, and Canaccord's long-term forecast of US$110/pound. "In light of recent volatility, we highlight names with torque and positive potential catalysts," the broker says. That includes NexGen Energy, Uranium Energy, Denison Mines and Atha Energy in North America. In Australia, it highlights Paladin Energy, Deep Yellow and Bannerman Energy and, in the U.K., Yellow Cake.(rhiannon.hoyle@wsj.com; @RhiannonHoyle)
source: https://www.tradingview.com/news/DJN_DN20260413008886:0/