The U.S. dollar had a soft tone in early Asian trading on Friday after losing ground overnight to the euro and sterling on the back of U.S. data showing further signs of a cooling labour market and hence higher odds of Fed rate cuts this year.
Asian shares were subdued on Thursday as investors awaited China trade data to gauge the health of the Chinese economy, while the yen steadied after three days of declines as Japan talked up a potential currency intervention.
Thailand's economy is expected to grow 2.2% to 2.7% this year, down from a previous forecast of 2.8% to 3.3% due to a slow export recovery, a leading joint business group said on Wednesday.
Japan's inflation-adjusted real wages in March fell 2.5% from a year earlier, marking declines for two straight years, labour ministry data showed on Thursday.
China's exports likely returned to growth in April after contracting sharply in March, but the expansion is expected to be modest as factory owners wrestle with weak overseas demand and overcapacity that is pushing down their selling prices.
U.S. wholesale inventories fell in March, confirming that inventory investment was a drag on economic growth in the first quarter.