EM ASIA FX-Optimism on Beijing trade talks lifts most Asian currencies

(Adds text, updates prices)

By Aby Jose Koilparambil

Jan 9 (Reuters) - Most emerging Asian currencies rose

marginally on Wednesday against a softer dollar as increased

optimism that China and the United States might reach a trade

deal whetted investor appetites for riskier assets.

Officials of the two nations continued trade talks in

Beijing for an unscheduled third day, amid signs of progress on

issues including purchases of U.S. farm and energy commodities

as well as increased access to China's markets.

This week's meetings are the first face-to-face talks since

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping

agreed in December to a 90-day truce in the trade war that's

roiled global financial markets.

"The risk appetite received a boost as extension of US-China

trade talks into the third day was interpreted as good progress.

On forex, the dollar is on a softer footing today against most

trade," said Maybank in a note on Wednesday.

However, some analysts remained cautious.

"The global economic slowdown still hangs over the markets

and will keep a lid on the exuberance," Chris Weston, head of

research at Melbourne-based retail foreign-exchange broker

Pepperstone, said in a note.

The Korean won appreciated as much as 0.5

percent, to 1,118.70 against the dollar, before gains were

pared.

The South Korean currency lost about half a percent on

Tuesday after Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, the

world's biggest maker of smartphones and semiconductors,

estimated a 29 percent drop in October-December operating

profit.

The Chinese yuan firmed as much as 0.3 percent to

6.834 against the dollar.

The Thai baht gained 0.2 percent. The Singapore

dollar and Taiwan dollar also firmed slightly.

The Indian rupee bucked the trend, weakening as

much as 0.3 percent in its second consecutive session of losses

as higher oil prices put pressure on the world's sixth largest

economy, a net importer of the commodity.

Oil prices rose on Wednesday, extending gains from the

previous session on hopes for the Beijing trade talks.

Brent crude futures were up 42 cents, or 0.7

percent, at $59.14 per barrel while U.S. West Texas Intermediate

(WTI) crude oil futures topped $50 a barrel for the first

time this year.

The following table shows rates for Asian currencies against the

dollar at 0514 GMT.

CURRENCIES VS U.S. DOLLAR

Currency Latest bid Previous day Pct Move

Japan yen 108.860 108.73 -0.12

Sing dlr 1.357 1.3576 +0.04

Taiwan dlr 30.802 30.836 +0.11

Korean won 1121.500 1124.1 +0.23

Baht 32.030 32.07 +0.12

Peso 52.400 52.47 -0.13

Rupiah 14160.000 14140 -0.14

Rupee 70.365 70.20 -0.23

Ringgit 4.113 4.116 +0.07

Yuan 6.838 6.8548 +0.25

Change so far in 2019

Currency Latest bid End 2018 Pct Move

Japan yen 108.860 109.56 +0.64

Sing dlr 1.357 1.3627 +0.42

Taiwan dlr 30.802 30.733 -0.22

Korean won 1121.500 1115.70 -0.52

Baht 32.030 32.55 +1.62

Peso 52.400 52.58 +0.34

Rupiah 14160.000 14375 +1.52

Rupee 70.365 69.77 -0.85

Ringgit 4.113 4.1300 +0.41

Yuan 6.838 6.8730 +0.52

(Reporting by Aby Jose Koilparambil in Bengaluru; Editing by

Richard Borsuk)