EM ASIA FX-Most Asian units strengthen; yuan aided by regulator comments

* Asian currencies generally follow yuan's lead

* Yuan's strengthening was despite China growth slowdown

* Ringgit slips; Malaysia cuts 2018 growth target

(Adds details on yuan, rupiah and ringgit, updates prices)

By Sumeet Gaikwad

Oct 19 (Reuters) - Most emerging Asian currencies rose on

Friday, aided by profit-taking on the dollar and a slight

strengthening of the yuan as Beijing pledged more policy support

to mitigate risks from a trade row with the United States.

The Chinese yuan traded hands at 6.934,

marginally higher against the dollar, though still hovering

around its weakest level since early 2017.

Shares in China initially sputtered, then recovered after

government statements bolstered market confidence as the

country's third quarter economic growth slowed to its weakest

pace since 2009.

"The resultant stability of the RMB in the Asian session

provided some form of anchor for regional currencies," said

Fiona Lim, an FX analyst at Maybank.

A Reuters poll showed short positions on most Asian

currencies were seen unwinding over the past two weeks, with

traders turning sceptical of the dollar's bull run.

The Indian rupee strengthened 0.21 percent against

the dollar and is on track to post a weekly gain against the

dollar.

The Singapore dollar strengthened 0.24 percent, while

the Philippine peso gained 0.21 percent against the dollar.

The Indonesian rupiah, among Asia's worst

performing currencies this year, was marginally lower and on

track for a fifth straight week of decline against the dollar.

Indonesia is wrestling with a high current account deficit,

which further widens as the currency weakens.

"The rupiah is still in the weakening process due to global

factors as well as domestic slowing," said a FX strategist from

Indonesia.

The Malaysian ringgit was off 0.07 percent, and was

poised to post its fourth straight weekly decline versus the

dollar.

The Malaysian government on Thursday said the country will

see wider fiscal deficits and slower economic growth than

earlier forecast for this year and through 2020.

CHINESE YUAN

The yuan was on track for a weekly loss against the dollar

and has weakened more than 6 percent this year and is close to

the psychologically critical 7 per dollar level.

The PBOC set Friday's official midpoint at 6.9387, the

weakest level since Jan. 4, 2017. Thursday's midpoint was fixed

at 6.9275.

The currency is facing a double whammy of depreciation

pressure amid rising China-U.S. trade tensions and signs of a

slowing economy.

The following table shows rates for Asian currencies against the

dollar at 0600 GMT.

CURRENCIES VS U.S. DOLLAR

Change at 0600 GMT

Currency Latest bid Previous day Pct Move

Japan yen 112.450 112.18 -0.24

Sing dlr 1.378 1.3816 +0.24

Taiwan dlr 30.915 30.975 +0.19

Korean won 1131.100 1135.2 +0.36

Baht 32.580 32.58 +0.00

Peso 53.850 53.965 +0.21

Rupiah 15200.000 15192 -0.05

Rupee 73.440 73.60 +0.21

Ringgit 4.158 4.155 -0.07

Yuan 6.934 6.9387 +0.07

Change so far in 2018

Currency Latest bid End 2017 Pct Move

Japan yen 112.450 112.67 +0.20

Sing dlr 1.378 1.3373 -2.97

Taiwan dlr 30.915 29.848 -3.45

Korean won 1131.100 1070.50 -5.36

Baht 32.580 32.58 +0.00

Peso 53.850 49.93 -7.28

Rupiah 15200.000 13565 -10.76

Rupee 73.440 63.87 -13.03

Ringgit 4.158 4.0440 -2.74

Yuan 6.934 6.5069 -6.15

(Reporting by Sumeet Gaikwad in Bengaluru; Additional reporting

by Nikhil Nainan; Editing by Richard Borsuk)