By Susan Mathew
Oct 31 (Reuters) - Most Asian currencies advanced on Tuesday
with the dollar coming under pressure after investigators
probing Russian meddling in the U.S. election had charged
President Donald Trump's former campaign manager.
Federal investigators probing Russian interference in the
2016 U.S. election charged Paul Manafort, Trump's former
campaign manager, and aide Rick Gates with money laundering on
Monday.
"The scope of the investigation will likely widen. But at
this stage, we have no idea if there's a smoking gun or its all
a tempest in a teapot," Stephen Innes, Head of Trading Asia at FX
broker OANDA, said in a note.
Sentiment appears subdued as Trump contemplates his choice
for the next Fed chair, which will influence the future pace of
its rate hikes. Thus far, Jerome Powell, seen as less hawkish
than fellow candidate John Taylor, remains in favour.
The dollar fell to a one-week low against the yen,
while the dollar index, which measures the greenback
against six rivals, was marginally higher.
The South Korean won led gains in the region, hitting its
highest in two months.
The Indonesian rupiah was up slightly, on-track to
post its third straight month of gains. Sentiment may also have
been boosted by data out later on Monday showing that Indonesia
saw foreign direct investment increase at a slightly faster pace
in July-September than in the previous quarter.
The Taiwan dollar was 0.2 percent higher ahead of
preliminary third-quarter economic growth data to be out later
in the day.
Reuters
