Short positions on the Thai baht, the Philippine peso and the Singapore dollar were at their highest since 2018, when data was first available, according to a fortnightly poll of 13 respondents.

Analysts on average have not held net long positions on any Asian currency since late April.

Bearish bets on the baht firmed the most, with a worsening COVID-19 situation in China, which pursues a 'zero-COVID' strategy, stoking fears of a delay in return of Chinese tourists to Thailand.

Pessimism levels on the Chinese yuan, seen as a safer bet among Asia currencies, remained largely unchanged.

The Philippine peso was the most shorted Asian currency after it hit a 17-year low earlier this week, as investors feared the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' (BSP) rate hikes would still leave it behind the curve in fighting inflation.

India, like many other economies, is battling soaring inflation in spite of policy tightening and wheat export curbs.