Foreign exchange market. Asian session

(Time/ Region/ Event/ Period/ Previous/ Forecast/ Actual)

03:40 Japan BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda Speaks

The dollar was slightly higher against the yen in Asia trade Friday, an indication that investors were avoiding leaning too much toward the downside ahead of the release of economic indicators in the U.S. In currency flows related to trade settlements early in the session, dollar buying from importers appeared to exceed selling, helping send the greenback to as high as Y119.50, but some of the gains were given back as trade become directionless.

Market participants shrugged off midday comments by Bank of Japan Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda that there was no need for the central bank to take any additional easing steps now. The BOJ is widely seen standing pat at its policy setting meeting next week, while a raft of downbeat economic indicators in the U.S. make it increasingly unlikely that the Federal Reserve will raise rates in June.

EUR/USD: during the Asian session, the pair was trading in the $1.1390-15

GBP/USD: during the Asian session, the pair was trading in the $1.5755-80

USD/JPY: during the Asian session the pair rose to Y119.50