* Asia FX up vs dollar ahead of Fed minutes, Jackson Hole
meet
* S.Korean won rises on possible easing in Japan export
curbs
(Adds text, updates prices)
By Devika Syamnath
Aug 21 (Reuters) - The won rose sharply on Wednesday on
signs of easing in Japan's curbs on exports to South Korea,
while other Asian currencies strengthened against a defensive
dollar ahead of a symposium of global central bankers.
Comments from U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on
Friday at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, will be in focus as markets
look for hints on further policy easing from the head of the
pivotal central bank.
Also watched by investors will be minutes from the Fed's
July meeting, at which it cut U.S. rates by 25 basis points,
which are due later on Wednesday.
The dollar slipped from a three-week peak because of a
reversal in U.S. yields, as they headed south again. USD/
The Taiwan dollar TWD=TP and Malaysian ringgit MYR= were
0.2% higher, while India's rupee INR=IN climbed 0.3%.
The yuan inched up 0.1%.
China's central bank fixed the currency's mid-point "at a
market-friendly 7.0433 vs the previous close of 7.0610 so the
bias has been to sell USD this morning," Stephen Innes, managing
partner of VM Markets, said in a note.
The recent weakening of China's currency has become an issue
in the prolonged trade war between Beijing and Washington. In
his latest comments on the dispute, U.S. President Donald Trump
said on Tuesday a confrontation with China was necessary even if
it caused short-term harm to the U.S. economy. MKTS/GLOB
Innes said "it's beginning to feel more like your typical
August as the markets don't seem to have much of an axe to grind
one way or the other today other than pre-risk event positioning
squaring".
Korea's won KRW=KFTC gained the most among peers, up as
much as 0.8% at one point in the session, on signs of easing in
the country's trade dispute with Japan stemming from tensions
from their wartime past.
Japan on Tuesday approved shipments of a high-tech material
to South Korea for the second time since imposing export curbs
last month, two sources said. The won has been the worst performing Asian currency against
the dollar this year.
The following table shows rates for Asian currencies against
the dollar at 0456 GMT.
CURRENCIES VS U.S. DOLLAR
Currency Latest bid Previous day Pct Move
Japan yen 106.460 106.22 -0.23
Sing dlr 1.384 1.3847 +0.05
Taiwan dlr 31.353 31.405 +0.17
Korean won 1202.000 1208.3 +0.52
Baht 30.760 30.78 +0.07
Peso 52.270 52.31 +0.08
Rupiah 14240.000 14255 +0.11
Rupee 71.520 71.70 +0.26
Ringgit 4.171 4.181 +0.24
Yuan 7.054 7.0610 +0.10
Change so far in 2019
Currency Latest bid End 2018 Pct Move
Japan yen 106.460 109.56 +2.91
Sing dlr 1.384 1.3627 -1.54
Taiwan dlr 31.353 30.733 -1.98
Korean won 1202.000 1115.70 -7.18
Baht 30.760 32.55 +5.82
Peso 52.270 52.47 +0.38
Rupiah 14240.000 14375 +0.95
Rupee 71.520 69.77 -2.45
Ringgit 4.171 4.1300 -0.98
Yuan 7.054 6.8730 -2.56