* Chinese yuan worst performing unit in May
* Won weakens as much as 0.4%
* Falling oil prices support rupee, rupiah
(Adds text, updates prices)
By Aby Jose Koilparambil
May 31 (Reuters) - Trade tensions bedevilled global markets
again and hurt most of Asian's emerging currencies on Friday,
with Washington's shock move to slap tariffs on Mexican goods
taking some of the shine off gains for Indonesia's rupiah
following a sovereign ratings upgrade.
The fears of a global recession only heightened during the
day as a survey showed China's factory activity contracted and
export orders faltered as the Sino-U.S. trade dispute
intensified. Opening a new front in the trade war, U.S. President Donald
Trump said Washington will impose a 5% tariff on imports from
Mexico from June 10, which would then rise steadily to 25% until
illegal immigration across the southern border was stopped.
Trump announced the decision on Twitter late Thursday,
completely blindsiding markets. "Overall what we are seeing in the markets is familiar
concerns over the U.S.-China trade tensions, which have taken a
new dimension with the U.S. imposing tariffs on Mexico, while
the China manufacturing data reinforces worries about the
economy's health," said Sim Moh Siong, forex strategist at Bank
of Singapore.
The won KRW=KFTC led the declines in the region, weakening
as much as 0.4% and is set to shed about 2% in May for its
fourth consecutive monthly loss.
The won, the worst regional performing currency this year,
bore the brunt of the shock U.S. move on Mexico, a manufacturing
hub for some of the South Korean auto majors including Hyundai
Motor 005380.KS and Kia Motors 0000270.KS .
Earlier, South Korea's central bank kept interest rates
unchanged for a fourth straight meeting, although pressure to
ease monetary policy is growing as global trade friction drags
on the export-reliant economy. The Chinese yuan CNY=CFXS shed up to 0.2% as the weak
factory data added to a flurry of weak indicators from the
world's No.2 economy which have stoked concerns about a global
recession.
The yuan is set to weaken for a third straight month,
shedding about 2.6% in May, the steepest monthly decline among
its peers.
On the upside, Indonesia's rupiah IDR=ID gained over 1%
after ratings agency S&P raised the country's sovereign credit
rating to 'BBB', citing strong economic growth prospects and
supportive policy dynamics. The rupiah was also supported by easing oil prices, which
benefited other major importers of the commodity in the region
such as India and Thailand.
India's rupee INR=IN and the Thai baht THB=TH tacked on
as much as 0.2% and 0.1%, respectively.
Crude prices dropped on Friday and were on track for their
biggest monthly fall since November as trade conflicts spread
and U.S. crude output returned to record levels. The Philippine peso PHP= dropped 0.3% and is on track for
a 1% loss in May. The Taiwan dollar TWD=TP was down slightly
and is set for its steepest monthly fall of 2.2% this year as
the tech export-reliant economy came in the firing line after
the U.S. targeted Chinese technology firms in May.
CURRENCIES VS U.S. DOLLAR
Change on the day at 0651 GMT
Currency Latest bid Previous day Pct Move
Japan yen 108.910 109.6 +0.63
Sing dlr 1.379 1.3789 +0.00
Taiwan dlr 31.615 31.610 -0.02
Korean won 1190.900 1188.8 -0.18
Baht 31.740 31.79 +0.16
Peso 52.197 52.14 -0.11
Rupiah 14250.000 14395 +1.02
Rupee 69.790 69.87 +0.11
Ringgit 4.193 4.19 -0.07
Yuan 6.907 6.9013 -0.08
Change so far in 2019
Currency Latest bid End 2018 Pct Move
Japan yen 108.910 109.56 +0.60
Sing dlr 1.379 1.3627 -1.17
Taiwan dlr 31.615 30.733 -2.79
Korean won 1190.900 1115.70 -6.31
Baht 31.740 32.55 +2.55
Peso 52.197 52.47 +0.52
Rupiah 14250.000 14375 +0.88
Rupee 69.790 69.77 -0.03
Ringgit 4.193 4.1300 -1.50
Yuan 6.907 6.8730 -0.49