EMERGING MARKETS-Rupiah strengthens after Indonesia cenbank holds rates, stocks mixed

(.) * Rupiah up 0.5% to 16,090 per dollar * Bank Indonesia leaves interest rates unchanged * Malaysian stocks touch over 3-year high * TSMC drops over 3% after Trump comment * Yen at an over one-month high By Shivangi Lahiri July 17 (Reuters) - The Indonesian rupiah strengthened after the central bank kept its interest rate unchanged as widely expected on Wednesday, while equities in emerging Asia were a mixed bag with South Korea and Taiwan leading the losses. The MSCI Emerging Market Asia index fell as much as 0.6% to its lowest in over a week. Shares in Taiwan lost around 1% as chipmaking giant TSMC weighed on the index, while those in South Korea ended 0.8% lower. Equities in Malaysia touched their highest level in more than three years, helped by a broad-based rally across most sectors. The rupiah crept higher to 16,090 per dollar after the interest rate decision, a few pips ahead of where it lingered most of the session. It has gained 0.5% for the day, and is hovering around its highest level since late May. Bank Indonesia held its key interest rate at 6.25% as widely expected, saying the current level remained consistent with efforts to anchor inflation and manage the currency. The rupiah, which languished around four-year lows in late June, has seen some relief over the past couple of weeks as rising U.S. rate cut bets softened the dollar. A U.S. interest rate cut would widen yield differentials compared to Indonesia, making local bonds more attractive and increasing inflows. "The rupiah outlook will be key for the monetary policy going forward," Lloyd Chan, senior currency analyst at MUFG, said. "In the second half, we think BI will likely have to stay patient for a while longer, keeping interest rates high for longer," Chan said, further warning that the currency will remain vulnerable to cross currents, including fiscal uncertainty, monetary policy, and U.S. elections. Elsewhere, the Singapore dollar and Thailand's baht advanced 0.2% and 0.4%, respectively, while the South Korean won was up 0.4%. The yen rose broadly, advancing up to 1% to 156.690 per dollar, a level last seen over a month ago, although traders and analysts were unsure of the reason behind the move. Among equities, the Malaysian benchmark rose as much as 0.7% to the highest level since mid-March 2021. Stocks in Thailand rose around 0.2%, while South Korean equities were down around 0.8%. Stocks in Taiwan lost up to 1%, weighed by chipmaker TSMC's more-than-3% fall after U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump said Taiwan should pay the United States for its defence. HIGHLIGHTS: ** Singapore's June exports fall steeper than forecast ** Philippine central bank amends foreign exchange reporting rules ** Thai PM seeks extra $3.4 bln for stimulus as lawmakers criticise handout plan ** Markets in India closed for a public holiday on Wednesday Asia stock indexes and currencies at 0801 GMT COUNTRY FX FX FX INDEX STOCKS STOCKS RIC DAILY % YTD % DAILY % YTD % Japan +0.85 -10.15 -0.43 22.81 China +0.03 -2.31 -0.45 -0.41 India - -0.45 - 13.26 Indonesia +0.50 -4.35 0.01 -0.65 Malaysia +0.13 -1.67 0.51 12.35 Philippines +0.14 -5.00 0.31 3.68 S.Korea +0.36 -6.67 -0.80 7.08 Singapore +0.22 -1.63 -0.02 7.62 Taiwan +0.03 -5.77 -0.95 32.56 Thailand +0.37 -4.75 0.10 -6.59 (Reporting by Shivangi Lahiri in Bengaluru; Editing by Kim Coghill and Janane Venkatraman)