EM ASIA FX-Most Asian units soften against broadly firmer dlr

* Philippine peso leads declines in region

* India trade deficit narrows to 10-mth low

(Adds text, updates prices)

By Niyati Shetty

Jan 16 (Reuters) - Most Asian currencies faltered on

Wednesday as the dollar steadied overnight amidst uncertainty

over the European economy and Brexit, while apprehensions about

a global economic slowdown continued to dampen risk appetite.

Leading declines in the region, the Philippine peso

softened 0.3 percent, and posted its biggest intraday percentage

loss in two weeks.

The greenback had climbed to a more than one week

high overnight on the back of economic weakness in Europe and

uncertainty over Brexit, after British lawmakers voted against

Prime Minister Theresa May's proposed deal with the EU.

Regional currencies weakened on Wednesday despite having

firmed in the last session after Chinese officials said they

would introduce further measures to support the economy.

Sentiment was also dampened by reported comments from U.S.

Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer that he did not see any

progress made on structural issues during the Sino-U.S. trade

talks in Beijing last week.

Market participants have been concerned about the economic

ramifications of the long-drawn U.S.-China trade war due to a

slew of weak export data from Asian countries including China,

South Korea and Taiwan.

The Indonesian rupiah weakened as much as 0.5 percent

in early trade, pressured by December trade data released on

Tuesday showed the trade deficit at its widest for 2018 as

exports contracted more than expected.

The Korean won, the Chinese yuan and

the Malaysian ringgit were marginally weaker against the

greenback.

INDIAN RUPEE

The rupee traded sideways after government data on

Tuesday showed the country's trade deficit narrow in December to

its lowest in ten months.

The deficit shrank on a fall in gold imports, while exports

remained flat, deepening concerns for Prime Minister Narendra

Modi who wants to accelerate growth ahead of national elections

due by May.

Signalling further cooling in the economy, data out on

Monday showed India's annual inflation dropped to an 18-month

low in December.

"Looking ahead, we are likely to witness an oncoming

monetary easing in India," MIDF Amanah Investment Bank said in a

note to clients.

The following table shows rates for Asian currencies against

the dollar at 0538 GMT.

CURRENCIES VS U.S. DOLLAR

Currency Latest bid Previous day Pct Move

Japan yen 108.480 108.66 +0.17

Sing dlr 1.354 1.3560 +0.12

Taiwan dlr 30.838 30.820 -0.06

Korean won 1120.000 1120.7 +0.06

Baht 31.770 31.9 +0.41

Peso 52.170 52 -0.33

Rupiah 14100.000 14085 -0.11

Rupee 71.053 71.04 -0.02

Ringgit 4.111 4.103 -0.18

Yuan 6.767 6.7610 -0.09

Change so far in 2019

Currency Latest bid End 2018 Pct Move

Japan yen 108.480 109.56 +1.00

Sing dlr 1.354 1.3627 +0.61

Taiwan dlr 30.838 30.733 -0.34

Korean won 1120.000 1115.70 -0.38

Baht 31.770 32.55 +2.46

Peso 52.170 52.47 +0.58

Rupiah 14100.000 14375 +1.95

Rupee 71.053 69.77 -1.81

Ringgit 4.111 4.1300 +0.47

Yuan 6.767 6.8730 +1.56

(Reporting by Niyati Shetty in Bengaluru)