Asian Currencies Hold Steady as Markets Await US Payroll Data

Currency markets in Asia experienced subdued trading as participants awaited key US economic indicators, particularly the nonfarm payrolls report, which often influences global financial conditions.

During early Asian trading on December 16, 2025, regional currencies such as the South Korean won, Chinese yuan, and Australian dollar remained largely stable against the US dollar. The session was marked by limited changes in exchange rates, with investors focusing on upcoming US labor market data.

Market participants also tracked partial labor market indicators, including ISM surveys and ADP employment figures, as they prepared for the release of the US nonfarm payrolls report. The anticipation of this data contributed to the cautious approach observed in currency trading across the region.

On the same day, the US dollar weakened slightly while most Asian currencies stayed within narrow ranges. The Indian rupee, however, reached its lowest recorded value against the dollar, trading at approximately 91.083 rupees per dollar.

What the numbers show

• The USD/KRW rate was about 1,428.90 during the early Asian session
• USD/CNH traded near 7.1205, and AUD/USD was around 0.6545
• The Chinese yuan’s USD/CNY rate changed less than 0.1%
• The Singapore dollar’s USD/SGD rate increased by about 0.1%
• The Australian dollar’s AUD/USD rate decreased by around 0.1%

Investors also paid attention to developments in Japan, where a Bank of Japan meeting was under way. Market watchers were considering the possibility of a rate increase in response to ongoing inflation and the continued weakness of the yen.

Expectations regarding US monetary policy varied, with some market forecasts suggesting that the Federal Reserve might postpone a rate cut until January 2026. However, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia maintained its projection of a rate reduction in December 2025.

Throughout the session, the overall pattern in Asian currency markets was one of consolidation, as traders awaited further signals from both US economic releases and central bank decisions in the region.

This period of limited movement reflected a broader trend of caution among investors, who were balancing local currency developments with global economic events and policy expectations.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.