EM ASIA FX-Most Asian units inch down on China growth, global trade worries

* Indonesian central bank rate decision due later in day

* Singapore Dec exports -8.5 pct y/y, worst decline since

Oct 2016

(Adds text, updates prices)

By Niyati Shetty

Jan 17 (Reuters) - Most Asian currencies edged down on

Thursday, reflecting uncertainty over China's economic growth

outlook and reminders of discord in Sino-U.S relations.

China's central bank said on Thursday it would make another

big cash injection through open market operations, after a

record net liquidity injection of $83 billion a day earlier,

seeking to avoid a cash crunch ahead of a long holiday period.

Earlier this week, poor Chinese trade data prompted

officials to signal further supportive measures to shore up

growth in the world's second largest economy.

The Chinese yuan faltered as much as 0.2 percent

against the greenback.

In a move that might have added to risk-off sentiment, U.S.

lawmakers introduced bipartisan bills on Wednesday that would

ban the sale of U.S. chips or other components to Huawei

Technologies Co Ltd and other Chinese telecom companies

that violate U.S. sanctions.

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday

that U.S. prosecutors are investigating Huawei for allegedly

stealing trade secrets and could soon issue an indictment.

Among Asian currencies, the Indonesian rupiah led

declines, softening as much as 0.4 percent as the market awaited

a central bank rate decision expected after 0700 GMT.

On Wednesday, Bank Indonesia Governor Perry Warjiyo said he

considers its benchmark interest rate to be "near its peak" but

will maintain the central bank's "pre-emptive and ahead of the

curve" approach.

Mizuho Bank, in a note on Thursday, said it expects a rate

hold "against a backdrop of receding tail risks and

corresponding macro stability vulnerabilities".

Between May and November, central bank raised rates six

times. All 20 analysts in a Reuters poll expect no change on

Thursday.

Also softening against the dollar on Thursday were the

Korean won and the Philippine peso.

SINGAPORE DOLLAR

The Singapore dollar was modestly lower on Thursday

as the city-state's exports had their biggest decline in more

than two years in December.

The trade-reliant country saw a fall of 8.5 percent in

non-oil domestic exports (NODX), as electronic and

pharmaceutical shipments plunged.

The bleak data is in line with dismal export data from other

Asian economies including China, South Korea, Taiwan,

Philippines and Indonesia.

OCBC Bank said it expected Singapore's export growth to

continue to disappoint this year "barring any rapid turnaround

in US-China trade talks and a firm resolution to the contentious

issues between US and China."

The following table shows rates for Asian currencies against

the dollar at 0432 GMT.

CURRENCIES VS U.S. DOLLAR

Currency Latest bid Previous day Pct Move

Japan yen 109.030 109.08 +0.05

Sing dlr 1.357 1.3549 -0.14

Taiwan dlr 30.833 30.831 -0.01

Korean won 1121.700 1120.1 -0.14

Baht 31.670 31.6975 +0.09

Peso 52.240 52.165 -0.14

Rupiah 14160.000 14115 -0.32

Rupee 71.275 71.24 -0.05

Ringgit 4.111 4.108 -0.07

Yuan 6.767 6.7580 -0.13

Change so far in 2019

Currency Latest bid End 2018 Pct Move

Japan yen 109.030 109.56 +0.49

Sing dlr 1.357 1.3627 +0.43

Taiwan dlr 30.833 30.733 -0.32

Korean won 1121.700 1115.70 -0.53

Baht 31.670 32.55 +2.78

Peso 52.240 52.47 +0.44

Rupiah 14160.000 14375 +1.52

Rupee 71.275 69.77 -2.11

Ringgit 4.111 4.1300 +0.46

Yuan 6.767 6.8730 +1.57

(Reporting by Niyati Shetty in Bengaluru; Editing by Richard

Borsuk)