EM ASIA FX-Most Asian currencies soften on weak China data; won leads losses

* Korean won poised to lose nearly 1 percent this week

* Indian rupee on track for second week of heavy declines

* Peso weakens after central bank holds key interest rate

(Adds text, updates prices)

By Niyati Shetty

Dec 14 (Reuters) - Most emerging Asian currencies slipped

against the dollar on Friday after weak China data rekindled

concerns about its slowing economy amid the backdrop of

unresolved Sino-U.S. trade tensions.

China's November retail sales grew at the weakest pace since

2003 and industrial output rose by the least in nearly three

years as domestic demand softened further. This underlined

rising risks to the economy.

"Chinese numbers were obviously not actually inspiring.

People are still concerned about the growth story," said Dominic

Schnider, head of commodities and APAC forex at UBS Wealth

Management in Hong Kong.

"With the Korean won leading the declines, it tells you that

the more growth sensitive currencies are getting most of the

beating."

The dollar firmed against most major counterparts.

The Korean won weakened 0.7 percent and was on

track to decline 1 percent this week.

The Chinese yuan was marginally lower against the

dollar and poised for a 0.2 percent weekly loss.

"Chinese renminbi will always be well managed. There is no

interest from the government to weaken the currency unless there

is a big dollar movement," added Schnider.

The Indian rupee was slightly softer ahead of a

central bank board meeting on Friday. It was on track for a

second week of heavy losses.

The board meeting would be the first for Reserve Bank of

India's new governor, Shaktikanta Das, as investors wait to see

how central bank policy might evolve.

The Indonesian rupiah was the day's second biggest

loser against the dollar, while the Thai baht,

Singapore dollar and Malaysian ringgit were

marginally lower.

PHILIPPINE RATE PAUSE

The peso, which declined 0.2 percent against the

dollar on Friday, was on track for marginal losses this week.

The central bank left its benchmark interest rate on hold

at 4.75 percent on Thursday after five straight hikes as the

country's inflation rate cooled.

Easing fuel and food prices should cool inflation further,

the central bank said, and bring the average rate in 2019 and

2020 to 3.18 percent and 3.04 percent.

Some analysts expect the rate-hiking to be over and the

bank's next move to probably be a rate cut next year.

The following table shows rates for Asian currencies against

the dollar at 0523 GMT.

CURRENCIES VS U.S. DOLLAR

Currency Latest bid Previous day Pct Move

Japan yen 113.450 113.62 +0.15

Sing dlr 1.372 1.3711 -0.07

Taiwan dlr 30.852 30.850 -0.01

Korean won 1131.100 1123.4 -0.68

Baht 32.750 32.7 -0.15

Peso 52.710 52.59 -0.23

Rupiah 14550.000 14490 -0.41

Rupee 71.710 71.68 -0.04

Ringgit 4.180 4.178 -0.05

Yuan 6.890 6.8835 -0.10

Change so far in 2018

Currency Latest bid End 2017 Pct Move

Japan yen 113.450 112.67 -0.69

Sing dlr 1.372 1.3373 -2.53

Taiwan dlr 30.852 29.848 -3.25

Korean won 1131.100 1070.50 -5.36

Baht 32.750 32.58 -0.52

Peso 52.710 49.93 -5.27

Rupiah 14550.000 13565 -6.77

Rupee 71.710 63.87 -10.93

Ringgit 4.180 4.0440 -3.25

Yuan 6.890 6.5069 -5.56

(Reporting by Niyati Shetty in Bengaluru; Editing by Richard

Borsuk)