JP Morgan says Asian currencies are diverging. It expects the Bank of Japan to
hike 3-4 times over the next 12 months, lifting the policy rate to around 2% and
likely prioritizing exchange-rate stability; USD/JPY is expected to remain near
160. JP Morgan is cautious on the Indian rupee, citing persistent capital
outflow pressure as the main drag. The Australian dollar may continue to benefit
from favorable terms of trade and a sound fiscal backdrop. JP Morgan adds Asian
FX is shifting from a regional-wide trend to a divergence driven by external
balances, the AI investment cycle, policy credibility and capital flows.