EM ASIA FX-Weaker China data, trade fears keep pressure on Asian currencies

* China data shows slowing Q2 GDP and industrial output

growth

* S.Korean won leads Monday losses, dropping 0.5 pct

(Adds text, updates prices)

By Patturaja Murugaboopathy

July 16 (Reuters) - Most Asian emerging currencies moved

only marginally on Monday as traders weighed softer Chinese

second quarter economic data and the likely impact of Sino-U.S.

tensions on the global outlook.

China's economy grew an annual 6.7 percent in April-June,

compared with 6.8 percent in each of the previous three

quarters, official data showed on Monday.

It also showed China's first half fixed asset investment

growth was at a record low and industrial output matched the

slowest growth rate in over two years at 6 percent.

Asian countries play a major part of the supply chain to

China's exports and any disruption in China's trade tend to

affect regional markets as a whole.

"The real uncertainty (for Asian currencies) is what is

going to happen to China's trade," said Wei Liang Chang, an FX

strategist at Mizuho Bank.

The offshore yuan weakened to 6.7078 per dollar,

close to a 11-month low of 6.7326 it touched earlier this month.

Chang said that the USD/CNH pair trading stronger than 6.70

hurts sentiment about all emerging Asian currencies.

The South Korean won fell more than 0.5 percent,

leading regional losers on the day. On Friday, the USD/KRW pair

has hit above its 200-week simple moving average (SMA), a

negative sign for the won.

The Indian rupee edged lower on concern over trade

deficits.

India's trade deficit widened to its highest in more than

five years in June, the trade ministry said on Friday, driven

largely by a surge in oil prices and a weaker rupee.

Among gainers on Monday was the Thai baht, which

rose 0.2 percent.

Markets were also watchful ahead of Federal Reserve chief

Jerome Powell's appearance before a U.S. Senate committee on

Tuesday.

On Friday, the central bank said U.S. economic growth was

solid during the first half, and it continues to expect to raise

interest rates gradually.

"Rising protectionism measures, Fed's hawkish rhetoric, U.S.

data strength amid supported risk appetite is supportive for the

USD vs. lower yielders in the near term," said Saktiandi Supaat,

head of FX research at Maybank in Singapore, in a report on

Monday.

The following table shows rates for Asian currencies

against the dollar at 0507 GMT.

CURRENCIES VS U.S. DOLLAR

Change as of 0507

GMT

Currency Latest Previous Pct

bid day Move

Japan yen 112.440 112.36 -0.07

Sing dlr 1.364 1.3654 +0.11

Taiwan dlr 30.560 30.556 -0.01

Korean won 1128.30 1123.5 -0.43

0

Baht 33.290 33.34 +0.15

Peso 53.490 53.51 +0.04

Rupiah 14380.0 14375 -0.03

00

Rupee 68.555 68.52 -0.05

Ringgit 4.045 4.05 +0.12

Yuan 6.692 6.6993 +0.11

Change so far in

2018

Currency Latest End 2017 Pct

bid Move

Japan yen 112.440 112.67 +0.20

Sing dlr 1.364 1.3373 -1.95

Taiwan dlr 30.560 29.848 -2.33

Korean won 1128.30 1070.50 -5.12

0

Baht 33.290 32.58 -2.13

Peso 53.490 49.93 -6.66

Rupiah 14380.0 13565 -5.67

00

Rupee 68.555 63.87 -6.83

Ringgit 4.045 4.0440 -0.02

Yuan 6.692 6.5069 -2.76

(Reporting by Patturaja Murugaboopathy in Bengaluru; Editing by

Richard Borsuk)