Asian session review: the dollar rose against most major currencies

During today's Asian trading, the US dollar stabilized against the euro, but rose against most Asian currencies on the back of increased demand for safe haven assets due to the continued increase in the incidence of COVID-19 worldwide and new quarantine measures.

Hong Kong on Friday for the first time announced the introduction of a partial lockdown due to the worsening situation with the coronavirus. An outbreak of the disease has also been noted in China, which raises the concerns of experts, given the approach of the holidays on the occasion of the New Year according to the Lunar calendar.

The ICE index, which tracks the dollar's performance against six currencies (euro, swiss franc, yen, canadian dollar, pound sterling and swedish krona), rose 0.1%.

On the eve of the European Central Bank (ECB) kept key interest rates, as well as the volume of the emergency program of asset repurchases. ECB President Christine Lagarde said during a press conference following the meeting that the renewed increase in the incidence of COVID-19 and the re-introduction of restrictive measures in many countries of the euro zone undermines economic activity and creates risks for the economy in the short term.