Malaysia's ringgit rose 0.32% against the US dollar to lead gains among Asian currencies, Kontan reports. South Korea's won followed, while the Taiwan dollar was the only currency in the group to weaken.

The day's gains came against a backdrop of sharply divergent performance across the region this year. The won has climbed 7.74% against the dollar since the end of 2025, the strongest showing among the currencies tracked. Over the same period, the Indonesian rupiah has lost 7.93%, one of the steepest declines.

As of 02:07 GMT, the ringgit stood at 4.044 per dollar. The won added 0.17% to trade at 1,336.98.

The Japanese yen firmed 0.14% to 157.47 per dollar. The Singapore dollar gained 0.12% to 1.278, and China's yuan edged up 0.03% to 6.659.

Smaller moves were recorded elsewhere. The Thai baht rose 0.04% to 33.685 per dollar and the Philippine peso climbed 0.05% to 63.619. The Indian rupee was unchanged at 95.26.

The rupiah strengthened 0.11% to IDR18,105 per dollar, compared with its previous level of IDR18,125.

The Taiwan dollar fell 0.54% to 32.667 per dollar, bucking the regional trend.

Looking at the year so far, the yuan has appreciated 4.94% against the dollar. The Singapore dollar is up 0.57% and the ringgit has gained 0.30%.

Several currencies remain well down for 2026. The Philippine peso has dropped 7.57% and the baht has shed 6.64%. The rupee has weakened 5.66% and the Taiwan dollar has declined 3.76%.

The yen has slipped 0.52% since the start of the year.