0150 GMT — Asian currencies consolidate against the USD in early Asian trade but may strengthen amid risk-on sentiment. Diplomatic efforts overnight to avoid a broadening of the Hamas-Israel conflict in the Middle East region have underpinned a more positive start to the week for risk sentiment, says Taylor Nugent, economist for markets at NAB, in commentary. The more supportive risk backdrop has also been the dominant theme in foreign-exchange markets, adds Nugent. AUD/USD rises 0.3% to 0.6351; USD/SGD little changed at 1.3687; USD/KRW is up 0.2% at 1,351.43. ([email protected])