Asian session

In early Asian deals on Thursday the Japanese unit appreciated across the board on weakness in most Asian stocks that prompted traders to seek for safe-haven currencies, like dollar and yen. The yen thus jumped to a 15-day high against its US and Canadian rivals, 1-week high against New Zealand dollar and a 2-day high against Australian dollar.

Early in Asia Wednesday, the Japanese unit that edged lower after the Bank of Japan released its quarterly Tankan survey report at 7:50 pm ET reversed direction shortly. The yen thus moved off slightly from a 2-month low against the euro and multi-day lows against the aussie, the kiwi and the franc.

During early Asian deals on Monday, the alpine franc depreciated across the board. 

Thus far, the Swiss franc dropped to a 4-day low of 85.50 against the yen around 9:05 pm ET, compared to last week's close of 85.60. On the downside, the Swiss currency may find support around the 84.0 level.

During Friday’s Asian deals the Japanese unit tumbled around 12:15 am ET as Kyodo News cited an unidentified market source as saying that Japan sold its currency for the second time this month to curb the yen's rise.

In late Asian deals on Thursday, the 16-nation major revealed choppy trading against its UK, US and Japanese counterparts. Thereafter, in early European session, the euro lost some ground after reports showed that the Purchasing Manager Index in the European Union dropped more than expected in September.

The British pound lost its Asian session’s gains in early European trading as the release of the minutes of the BofE’s monetary policy meeting showed a vote of 8-1 to keep rates on hold in September. The pound thus slipped from a 5-day high against the dollar.

In early Asian session on Wednesday the greenback revealed weakness, extending its yesterday's drop as the Fed held rates steady and hinted at the possibility of further quantitative easing if needed to support the economic recovery.

The Swiss franc extended its Thursday decline in early Asian deals today, sliding further versus its US, UK and euro zone counterparts as investors sold the franc after the Swiss National Bank kept interest rates on hold yesterday and cut its inflation forecast. The franc thus tumbled to near a 1-month low against the euro, 18-day low against the pound and a 4-day low against the dollar.

The Japanese unit revealed firmness in early Asian session today after slumping Wednesday as Japanese authorities have intervened in the currency market for the first time since early 2004 to delay the yen's rise.

In the equity front, the Japanese shares opened higher today. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index is currently trading at 9,544.81 - up 28.25 points or 0.3% over its previous close.

The Japanese unit plummeted across the board in early Asian deals on Wednesday as Japan intervened in the currency market for the first time since early 2004 to stem the yen's surge against the dollar that threatens a fragile economic recovery.

Central banks intervened in the foreign exchange market when they buy or sell currencies to influence exchange rates.

In early Asian deals today, the Japanese unit that spiked versus its key counterparts, eased after 8:50 pm ET. The yen thus moved off slightly from a fresh 15-year high against the dollar and a 1-week high against the pound

The yen is currently worth 83.47 against the dollar, compared to a new 15-year high of 83.26 hit at 8:50 pm ET.

The alpine currency appreciated across the board during early Asian session on Tuesday, jumping to near a 9- 1/2 -month high against the US dollar. The franc also firmed to a 1-week high against the pound and a 4-day high against the euro. At the same time, the franc recouped its early losses against the yen.

Monday, in early Asian trading the US currency slid versus its main opponents as investors bet on risk-sensitive currencies on receding worries about the global economy after China reported encouraging economic reports over the weekend and global regulators agreed on new capital rules. The greenback declined to new multi-day lows against the euro and the pound.

The 16-nation currency spiked across the board in early Asian deals on Monday, as upbeat economic reports from China over the weekend added to signs the global economic recovery is gaining momentum. The euro thus jumped to a 6-day high against the dollar, yen and the pound. Meanwhile, the euro recovered from a new record low against the aussie.

Friday in early Asian trading, the US currency firmed versus its main rivals as better-than expected economic reports released Thursday weakened concerns over the US economy development slowing.