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Asian dollar

deposits little changed

SINGAPORE: Asian dollar deposit rates were little changed in lacklustre trade with most traders sidelined ahead of tonight's 1230 GMT release of the US February international trade data, dealers said on Tuesday.

The US trade deficit for February is forecast to have shrunk to US$8.70 billion compared with US$10.27 billion reported in January.

"The market was quiet and featureless in the morning except for some light activity at the shorter end of the weekend. Everyone is waiting for tonight's international trade deficit figures", a local dealer said.

"But I don't think there will be much impact here as the numbers have been built into the market and most people have squared or are squaring their positions", he said.

In day-to-day rates, Tuesday/Wednesday and Wednesday/Thursday eased 1/16 percentage point each to a common 5-5/16 5-3/16 percent.

Week-fixed was unchanged from Monday's 5-3/8 5-1/4 percent.

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