Risk sentiment was also capped as hawkish comments from Federal Reserve officials kept near-term U.S. rate cut expectations in check in a boost to the dollar. The comments along with data showing a stable housing market kept expectations in check over when and by how much the Fed will cut rates. Markets are pricing in 47 basis points of easing this year, with a rate cut in September pegged at 66% probability, CME FedWatch tool showed. In the currency market, the dollar index , which measures the U.S. unit against six peers, was steady at 105.64, while the euro was at $1.0715. The yen touched a 34-year low of 160.245 per dollar on April 29, prompting Tokyo to spend roughly 9.8 trillion in late April and early May to support the currency.

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Persons: Androniki, Lisa Cook, Cook, Michelle Bowman, Selena Ling, OCBC, OCBC's Ling, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Nikkei, REUTERS, Federal Reserve, . Federal, Reuters, Bank of Japan's, Brent, U.S, West Texas, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, SINGAPORE, U.S, Asia, Pacific