EM ASIA FX-Asian units slip as trade rift moves awaited; Indian rupee falls most
* Yuan hits lowest level since Dec. 19 intra-day
* Indian rupee weakens 0.32 pct against the dollar
* Philippine peso is the biggest regional gainer
* Expect sentiment to remain 'jittery' - OCBC
(Adds text, updates prices)
By Aaron Saldanha
June 27 (Reuters) - Most Asian currencies edged down on
Wednesday as investors waited to see the next development in the
trade tussle involving the United States and China.
"At this stage, we may be reduced to headline watching with
regards to Asian currencies," OCBC's Terence Wu said in a
research note.
On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed Treasury
Secretary Steven Mnuchin's measured approach to restricting
Chinese investments in U.S. technology companies, saying a
strengthened merger security review committee could protect
sensitive American technologies.
"Overnight, Trump appeared to be less confrontational
regarding Chinese investment restrictions, and this may provide
some temporary reprieve for Asian currencies," Wu said.
"Nevertheless, expect sentiments to remain jittery ahead of
the (U.S. government) report on Chinese investments due Friday,
and the 6 July deadline for tariff imposition."
Among regional currencies, the Chinese yuan was
among Wednesday's biggest losers, touching its weakest against
the dollar since Dec. 19 during the session.
The Chinese central bank had set the yuan's official
midpoint weaker for a sixth straight session.
The South Korean won and the similarly
export-oriented Taiwan dollar dipped 0.28 percent and
0.12 percent, respectively.
The Indian rupee lost the most for the day by
falling 0.34 percent. India has been plagued by inflation
concerns with rising prices of oil, a major driver of its
current account deficit.
Brent crude prices were up 0.5 percent to $76.65 per
barrel on Wednesday following supply disruptions in Libya and
Canada and after U.S. officials told oil importers to stop
buying Iranian crude from November.
The Thai baht did not move after Thailand's
manufacturing production index in May rose 3.2 percent from a
year earlier, below the 3.5 percent rise forecast by a Reuters
poll.
Indonesia's rupiah did not trade on Wednesday due to
a holiday. The central bank, which raised the key interest rate
twice in May, is likely to hike it again on Friday to give the
fragile rupiah more support, a Reuters poll showed.
The Philippine peso bucked Wednesday's trend to gain
about 0.31 percent, helped by a pick-up in investor sentiment in
the equity market. The Philippines' equity benchmark was
trading up to 1.5 percent higher, after advancing for the first
time in nine sessions on Tuesday.
The following table shows rates for Asian currencies against
the dollar at 0446 GMT.
CURRENCIES VS U.S. DOLLAR
Change on day at 0446 GMT
Currency Latest bid Previous day Pct Move
Japan yen 109.950 110.05 +0.09
Sing dlr 1.363 1.3630 +0.03
Taiwan dlr 30.450 30.412 -0.12
Korean won 1117.900 1114.8 -0.28
Baht 32.980 32.99 +0.03
Peso 53.455 53.639 +0.34
Rupee 68.458 68.24 -0.32
Ringgit 4.025 4.021 -0.10
Yuan 6.598 6.5797 -0.27
* Indonesia currency market closed for
a holiday
Change so far in 2018
Currency Latest bid End 2017 Pct Move
Japan yen 109.950 112.67 +2.47
Sing dlr 1.363 1.3373 -1.86
Taiwan dlr 30.450 29.848 -1.98
Korean won 1117.900 1070.50 -4.24
Baht 32.980 32.58 -1.21
Peso 53.455 49.977 -6.51
Rupiah 14173.000 13565 -4.29
Rupee 68.458 63.87 -6.70
Ringgit 4.025 4.0440 +0.47
Yuan 6.598 6.5069 -1.38
(Reporting by Aaron Saldanha in Bengaluru; Editing by Richard
Borsuk)