Investing.com-- Most Asian currencies moved little on Thursday as markets remained on edge before key U.S. labor data, while the yen appreciated as Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda offered more cues on a potential pivot away from the bank’s ultra-dovish stance. 

The dollar also steadied in Asian trade, retaining recent gains as markets awaited more cues on when the Federal Reserve planned to begin trimming interest rates. 

His comments reinforced expectations that the BOJ will wind down its ultra-dovish, stimulus-heavy policies in the coming year. But uncertainty over the timing of the pivot still kept traders wary.

Gains in the yen were still held back by Ueda stressing on the need for loose policy in the near-term, especially amid signs that the Japanese economy was cooling further. 

Yuan flat after mixed trade data, FX intervention eyed 

Markets were also watching for any more currency market intervention by the Chinese government, after several state banks were seen selling dollars for yuan on the open market. 

Dollar retains rebound before nonfarm payrolls