Asia FX: Geopolitics and cautious positioning – MUFG

MUFG’s Senior Currency Analyst Michael Wan highlights that Asian currencies have held up alongside a weaker Dollar despite renewed tensions around the fragile two-week ceasefire in the Middle East.

GBP/USD tops 1.3400 as fragile truce keeps Sterling bid aloft

The GBP/USD pair advances past the 1.3400 figure on Thursday amid deteriorating risk appetite. The Middle East ceasefire seems fragile, as Israel strikes Lebanon amid the conflict with Hezbollah. At the time of writing, the pair trades at 1.3441, up 0.36%.

Israel signals direct talks with Lebanon on Hezbollah disarmament

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday that he has ordered the start of direct negotiations with Lebanon "as soon as possible," with talks expected to center on disarming Hezbollah and establishing a formal peace between the two nations.