EM ASIA FX-Singapore dlr hits 3-week high on safe-haven plays; Asia FX up

(Updates prices. For midday report, double-click

)

SINGAPORE, Feb 4 (Reuters) - The Singapore dollar hit a

three-week high on Tuesday as global risk aversion fuelled

safe-haven demand, and most emerging Asian currencies gained as

the region is seen as better positioned than other emerging

markets.

The city-state's currency rose as much as 0.7

percent to 1.2672 to the U.S. dollar, its strongest since Jan.

14, on short covering.

It found more support as investors bought Singapore dollars

against the Malaysian ringgit and the Thai baht

. The ringgit fell to its lowest since July 1998

against the Singapore dollar.

The baht advanced against the U.S. dollar as

offshore funds and local interbank speculators covered short

positions.

In Bangkok, the number of anti-government protesters appears

to have dwindled, even though the opposition party will

challenge the weekend's disrupted elections in court.

The ringgit initially weakened, but then rose on

bids linked to daily fixing after traders said they spotted the

central bank intervening to support it.

Indonesia's rupiah gained as foreign banks and

state-run lenders bought it ahead of a bond auction on

Wednesday.

The South Korean won turned higher as exporters'

demand for settlements triggered stop-loss dollar selling.

Offshore funds also covered short positions in the won.

CURRENCIES VS U.S. DOLLAR

Change on the day at 0829 GMT

Currency Latest bid Previous day Pct Move

Japan yen 101.21 100.97 -0.24

Sing dlr 1.2691 1.2758 +0.53

*Taiwan dlr 30.350 30.376 +0.09

Korean won 1083.70 1084.50 +0.07

Baht 32.80 32.95 +0.46

Peso 45.31 45.41 +0.22

Rupiah 12195.00 12235.00 +0.33

Rupee 62.64 62.56 -0.13

Ringgit 3.3295 3.3465 +0.51

*Yuan 6.0600 6.0600 -0.00

Change so far in 2014

Currency Latest bid End prev year Pct Move

Japan yen 101.21 105.28 +4.02

Sing dlr 1.2691 1.2632 -0.46

Taiwan dlr 30.350 29.950 -1.32

Korean won 1083.70 1055.40 -2.61

Baht 32.80 32.86 +0.18

Peso 45.31 44.40 -2.02

Rupiah 12195.00 12160.00 -0.29

Rupee 62.64 61.80 -1.34

Ringgit 3.3295 3.2755 -1.62

Yuan 6.0600 6.0539 -0.10

* Financial markets in China and Taiwan were closed for

holidays.

(Reporting by Jongwoo Cheon; Editing by Richard Borsuk)