960417

Dollar

deposits little

changed

SINGAPORE: Asian dollar deposit rates were little changed in featureless trade with most traders sidelined ahead of the 1230 GMT release of the US March housing starts data, which is forecast to be around 1.46 million annualised units compared with 1.49 million reported in February, dealers said.

"The market was quiet and featureless in the morning on lack of fresh incentives. All eyes are on tonight's housing starts figures but I don't think there will be much impact here unless the numbers are way off market expectations," a local dealer said.

In short dates, Wednesday/Thursday, Thursday/Friday and week-fixed were unchanged from Tuesday's common 5-3/8 5-1/4 percent.

Among longer dates, one-month was unchanged at 5-1/2 5-3/8 percent, six-month unchanged at 5-9/16 5-7/16, nine-months unchanged at 5-11/16 5-9/16 and twelve-months unchanged at 5-13/16 5-11/16 percent.-Reuter