Asian session: The dollar was broadly firmer

The dollar was broadly firmer on Thursday, having posted its biggest one-day gain in more than a month as an improvement in global sentiment led investors to trim bearish dollar positions. A surprise policy easing by Singapore's central bank, citing a tougher outlook for economic growth, also boosted regional equities and gave the dollar a lift against that country's currency.

The yen got no help from Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda, who said overnight in a speech in New York that the central bank was ready to expand monetary stimulus again if recent weaknesses in inflation expectations persist, stressing that there are "many ways" to do so to achieve his ambitious price target. Kuroda made the remarks ahead of a meeting of Group of 20 financial leaders in Washington this week, where currency policy is seen high on the agenda in the face of subdued global growth.

The Federal Reserve has highlighted global uncertainty as the major bar to another hike in interest rates. So, when upbeat trade data out of China and a pick-up in commodity prices seemed to lessen the risk of a deeper world downturn, dollar bulls figured there was now more chance of a move.

EUR/USD: during the Asian session the pair fell to $1.1365

GBP/USD: during the Asian session the pair traded in the range of $1.4255-80

USD/JPY: during the Asian session the pair rose to Y108.95

Based on Reuters materials