* Indonesian rupiah set to gain 1% this week
* Strong data, lower oil prices support rupee
* Thai baht, Philippine peso strengthen
(Adds text, updates prices)
By Shriya Ramakrishnan
Sept 13 (Reuters) - Most emerging Asian currencies
strengthened on Friday, as signs of progress in resolving the
protracted U.S.-China trade dispute and the European Central
Bank's pledge for indefinite stimulus boosted risk sentiment.
Washington welcomed China's renewed purchases of U.S. farm
goods, ahead of lower-level talks next week. U.S. President
Donald Trump did not rule out a possibility of an interim pact,
but emphasized that he preferred a comprehensive trade deal with
China. The ECB didn't disappoint investors either, as it delivered
a bigger-than-expected stimulus, cut rates and restarted a bond
purchases programme.
All of this was enough to soothe markets after a tumultuous
August. Asian currencies were set for weekly gains.
The Indian rupee INR=IN advanced 0.2% against the dollar,
benefiting from a slide in oil prices and strong industrial
output readings for July.
India's retail inflation rate increased to a 10-month high
in August but stayed below the central bank's 4% medium-term
target, reinforcing expectations for another interest rate cut
next month. Focus will now shift to a series of central bank meetings
next week, with the U.S. Federal Reserve, Bank of Japan, Bank
Indonesia and Taiwan's central bank slated to review their
respective policies.
The Thai baht THB=TH and Philippine peso PHP= ticked up
0.2% each against the greenback.
Bullish positions on the baht - emerging Asia's top
performing currency so far this year - retreated to their lowest
since early June, a Reuters poll showed, amid rising bets of a
rate cut as early as September, after inflation missed
expectations in August. Financial markets in China, Taiwan and South Korea were
closed for public holidays.
BULLS ADVANCE ON INDONESIAN RUPIAH
The Indonesian rupiah IDR=ID advanced 0.3% on the dollar,
and was set to gain about 1% for the week.
A Reuters poll showed that investors have turned bullish on
the rupiah for the first time since August.
The rupiah has largely regained its footing this year, after
falling about 5.6% in 2018, when the central bank hiked rates
six times to stabilize the rupiah and slow capital outflows
triggered by rising U.S. rates.
"Inflation is under control, real interest rates are
supportive of the currency and the central bank has done quite
well in terms of stabilizing the currency," said Sim Moh Siong,
FX strategist at Bank of Singapore.
Sim said with an improvement in global risk sentiment, the
rupiah could be one of the biggest beneficiaries among Asian
currencies thanks to its high yields.
Indonesia's central bank will hold its monetary policy
meeting next week, with analysts at ANZ predicting Bank
Indonesia to stand pat after two back-to back rate cuts.
CURRENCIES VS U.S. DOLLAR
Change on the day at 0509 GMT
Currency Latest bid Previous day Pct Move
Japan yen 108.130 108.09 -0.04
Sing dlr 1.373 1.3749 +0.12
Baht 30.400 30.46 +0.20
Peso 51.760 51.85 +0.17
Rupiah 13945.000 13985 +0.29
Rupee 70.965 71.13 +0.23
Ringgit 4.162 4.164 +0.05
Change so far in 2019
Currency Latest bid End 2018 Pct Move
Japan yen 108.130 109.56 +1.32
Sing dlr 1.373 1.3627 -0.77
Taiwan dlr 31.055 30.733 -1.04
Korean won 1191.000 1115.70 -6.32
Baht 30.400 32.55 +7.07
Peso 51.760 52.47 +1.37
Rupiah 13945.000 14375 +3.08
Rupee 70.965 69.77 -1.68
Ringgit 4.162 4.1300 -0.77
Yuan 7.079 6.8730 -2.91