EM ASIA FX-Asian currencies drop as weak data fuel global growth worries

(Adds text, updates prices)

By Patturaja Murugaboopathy

Feb 22 (Reuters) - Most Asian currencies dropped on Friday

as a run of data around the world heightened concerns over a

slowing global economy in a blow to investor risk appetite.

Recent manufacturing sector surveys in the United States,

Europe and Japan predicted a contraction in production levels

amid shrinking demand for their exports. On Thursday, the United

States saw an unexpected fall in core capital goods orders

pointing to a slowdown in business spending.

The weak global growth impulse boosted U.S. Treasury yields,

which in turn underpinned the dollar index.

Saktiandi Supaat, head of FX research at Maybank in

Singapore, said anxiety around the outcome of the Sino-U.S.

trade war and concerns the global economy is slowing at a faster

than expected pace could curb see currency market activity.

Reuters reported exclusively on Wednesday that China and

the Unites State, currently engaged in high-level talks in

Washington, were drafting language for six memorandums of

understanding on proposed Chinese reforms.

"Disappointment on the outcome of the trade talks could

derail sentiment and provide some support for the dollar," said

Maybank's Supaat.

U.S. President Donald Trump will meet with Chinese Vice

Premier Liu He, who is leading trade talks with U.S. officials

in Washington, at the White House on Friday, the White House

said on Thursday.

The Thai baht led the region's declines, shedding

0.3 percent on Friday. The baht has gained over 4 percent this

year though in recent weeks worries about an upcoming election

has cooled investor interest toward Thai assets.

Foreign investors have sold Thai equities in eight out of

the last nine trading sessions, the stock exchange data showed,

as worries about potential political instability grip the nation

ahead of elections in March.

The Chinese yuan and the Malaysian ringgit

gave up 0.1 percent each, while the Indian rupee edged

higher on falling crude oil prices.

Malaysia's consumer prices fell 0.7 percent in January from

a year earlier, the first decline in nearly a decade, government

data showed on Friday.

The Indonesian rupiah inched lower, but was set to

register its biggest gain in three weeks.

Indonesia's central bank kept interest rates on hold on

Thursday and said it was looking at ways to boost loan growth,

but indicated it was in no hurry to start rolling back last

year's six benchmark hikes.

The following table shows rates for Asian currencies against

the dollar at 0449 GMT.

CURRENCIES VS U.S. DOLLAR

Change on the day at

0449 GMT

Currency Latest Previous Pct

bid day Move

Japan yen 110.780 110.69 -0.08

Sing dlr 1.355 1.3534 -0.10

Taiwan dlr 30.807 30.830 +0.07

Korean won 1125.90 1125.2 -0.06

0

Baht 31.300 31.18 -0.38

Peso 52.160 52.13 -0.06

Rupiah 14065.0 14058 -0.05

00

Rupee 71.163 71.25 +0.12

Ringgit 4.081 4.076 -0.12

Yuan 6.729 6.7198 -0.14

Change so far in

2019

Currency Latest End 2018 Pct

bid Move

Japan yen 110.780 109.56 -1.10

Sing dlr 1.355 1.3627 +0.59

Taiwan dlr 30.807 30.733 -0.24

Korean won 1125.90 1115.70 -0.91

0

Baht 31.300 32.55 +3.99

Peso 52.160 52.47 +0.59

Rupiah 14065.0 14375 +2.20

00

Rupee 71.163 69.77 -1.96

Ringgit 4.081 4.1300 +1.20

Yuan 6.729 6.8730 +2.14

(Reporting By Patturaja Murugaboopathy; Additional Reporting by

Gaurav Dogra in Bengaluru

Editing by Shri Navaratnam)