* PBOC sets firmer fixing than expected, but weakest since
2008
* China export data shows signs of resistance to U.S. trade
pressure
* Indian rupee, baht gain after rate cuts; c.banks raise
concerns
for future
* Philippine central bank expected to cut rates later on
Thursday
(Adds text, updates prices)
By Nikhil Nainan
Aug 8 (Reuters) - China's yuan gained on Thursday after more
signs Beijing was slowing its fall, while currencies across Asia
were also lifted by better export data from China a day after
surprise rate cuts by central banks raised the spectre of a
global recession.
The People's Bank of China (PBOC) set the midpoint rate
CNY=PBOC at a firmer level than most had predicted, allaying
some investor nerves after the yuan CNY=CFXS crossed the key 7
per dollar level on Monday. However, the fixing was still the
weakest in more than a decade.
"This suggests that PBoC still desires stability over
volatility," Maybank said in a note, referring to Thursday's
fixing.
The yuan strengthened 0.2% against the dollar to 7.044.
Further helping sentiment, data earlier in the day showed
China's exports unexpectedly returned to growth in July despite
escalating U.S. trade pressure, rising 3.3% from a year earlier,
when analysts had looked for a fall of 2%. Concerns still remain about whether the world's second
largest economy can withstand even more pressure from Washington
after U.S. President Donald Trump said his country would levy
additional tariffs on Chinese goods from Sept. 1.
Market participants were taken back on Wednesday when Asian
central banks raised concerns about global growth with New
Zealand and India delivering bigger-than-expected rate cuts
while Thailand eased policy unexpectedly. That set the stage for
the Philippine central bank's meeting later in the day, with
some even predicting it might cut by a steep 50 basis points,
similar to the shock move by New Zealand.
The Southeast Asian country earlier in the day released data
showing below-forecast gross domestic product growth of 5.5% in
the second quarter, the weakest in almost two years. The peso
PHP= was marginally stronger against the dollar.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), which cut rates by an
unconventional 35 basis points for its fourth straight easing on
Wednesday, also highlighted its worries about domestic growth.
The rupee INR=IN was little changed at 70.840 a dollar, as
oil prices jumped on expectations of more production cuts. O/R
HSBC expects two more 25 basis-point rate cuts by the RBI
over the fourth quarter of this year and the first quarter of
the next, "making this a 160bp rate-cutting cycle."
The baht, Asia's best performer this year, gained 0.2% to
30.74, a day after the Thai central bank surprised markets with
its own 25 basis points rate cut to 1.5%, a quarter-point above
the record low. "A rate cut might lower the baht's yield appeal, but it will
be no panacea," DBS wrote in a note.
South Korea's won KRW-KFTC and Taiwan's dollar TWD=TP ,
both of which are highly susceptible to trade-related news,
gained 0.4% each.
In a further easing of market fears in South Korea, two
officials at its trade ministry said the country held off plans
to drop Japan from the so-called "white list" of countries with
fast-track export status, amid the broader trade dispute between
the two countries. VS U.S. DOLLAR
Change on the day at 0505 GMT
Currency Latest bid Previous day Pct Move
Japan yen 106.130 106.26 +0.12
Sing dlr 1.382 1.3823 +0.05
Taiwan dlr 31.349 31.487 +0.44
Korean won 1210.400 1214.9 +0.37
Baht 30.740 30.8 +0.20
Peso 52.180 52.24 +0.11
Rupiah 14210.000 14215 +0.04
Rupee 70.840 70.89 +0.06
Ringgit 4.182 4.186 +0.10
Yuan 7.044 7.0596 +0.22
Change so far in 2019
Currency Latest bid End 2018 Pct Move
Japan yen 106.130 109.56 +3.23
Sing dlr 1.382 1.3627 -1.37
Taiwan dlr 31.349 30.733 -1.96
Korean won 1210.400 1115.70 -7.82
Baht 30.740 32.55 +5.89
Peso 52.180 52.47 +0.56
Rupiah 14210.000 14375 +1.16
Rupee 70.840 69.77 -1.51
Ringgit 4.182 4.1300 -1.24
Yuan 7.044 6.8730 -2.43