Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article highlights the collective appreciation of Asian currencies during the May Day holiday, primarily driven by the significant appreciation of the New Taiwan Dollar, which rose by 6.8% [2][8]. - The appreciation of the New Taiwan Dollar is attributed to exporters selling US dollars and insurance companies' foreign exchange hedging operations, which may have intensified the currency's rise [11][12]. - The article suggests that the appreciation of the New Taiwan Dollar may not be an isolated case, as a weakening US dollar could lead to a repatriation of foreign assets, further driving local currency appreciation [11][12]. Group 2 - During the May Day holiday, global asset performance leaned towards a "risk-on" sentiment, with major stock markets experiencing gains, particularly the Nasdaq index, which rose by 3% [4][18]. - The US non-farm payrolls for April exceeded expectations, with an increase of 177,000 jobs, indicating a robust labor market and alleviating recession concerns [5][29]. - The US GDP for Q1 turned negative for the first time since Q3 2022, recording a -0.3% growth rate, primarily due to a significant decline in net exports [5][35]. Group 3 - The Bank of Japan decided to pause interest rate hikes, maintaining the policy rate at 0.5%, citing uncertainties related to tariff policies as a key factor [5][36]. - The OPEC+ meeting on May 3 agreed to increase production by 411,000 barrels per day in June, which is three times the original planned increase, leading to a significant drop in oil prices [6][41]. - Warren Buffett announced his retirement at the end of the year during the Berkshire Hathaway shareholder meeting, emphasizing the importance of not using trade as a weapon and expressing optimism about the US economy [7][42].

Exchange Rate Dynamics - The offshore RMB briefly surpassed 7.20, while the Hong Kong dollar approached the strong-side convertibility guarantee at 7.75, prompting concerns about potential currency crises[3] - The Taiwanese dollar experienced a notable increase of over 9% in just two days, a rare occurrence in the currency market[3] - The immediate catalyst for these movements was positive signals from US-China tariff negotiations, with the Chinese Ministry of Commerce indicating an evaluation of talks[3] Central Bank Perspectives - The People's Bank of China (PBOC) appears to maintain a psychological price level for the RMB, with key levels around 7.1 and 7.0 being closely monitored[4] - The current RMB exchange rate is primarily anchored to the USD, with no significant intervention from the PBOC observed at this time[4] - The PBOC is expected to control the appreciation of the RMB post-holiday, seeking a new equilibrium rather than a drastic shift[4] Long-term Currency Trends - The collective movements of Asian currencies may signal a structural change in exchange rate paradigms, indicating ongoing pressure on the USD[5] - The Hong Kong dollar represents a USD-anchored model, raising concerns about its ability to maintain the weak-side guarantee amidst potential USD system shifts[5] - The Taiwanese dollar's recent appreciation reflects a complex interplay of currency undervaluation and deep financial ties to the US, complicating its future trajectory[7] Risk Factors - A potential hardline stance from the US in trade negotiations could lead to further depreciation of the USD, exacerbating the appreciation of Asian currencies and impacting economic stability[8] - If the US imposes terms that force non-USD currency appreciation, it could destabilize the USD system and lead to global market turmoil[8]