* Graphic: World FX rates https://tmsnrt.rs/2RBWI5E
* Indonesia c.bank says GDP recovery slower than expected
* Indian shares eye a 7-day rally
* Volumes thin ahead of Lunar New Year holiday
By Shruti Sonal
Feb 9 (Reuters) - Indonesian shares reversed their course to
trade lower on Tuesday, after the country's central bank raised
concerns about the pace of its economic recovery, while most
other emerging Asian stocks gained in line with a broader rally.
The Jakarta benchmark .JKSE , which rose as much as 1.3%
earlier, was down 0.7% at 0721 GMT. It had added nearly 4% in
the last four sessions following an expansion of a COVID-19
relief budget last week.
Bank Indonesia's (BI) governor told lawmakers that the
contraction in Southeast Asia's largest economy in 2020 was
greater than its expectations and the pace of its economic
recovery was slower than anticipated. Denting sentiment further, retail sales in Indonesia dropped
19.2% year-on-year in December, steeper than a 16.3% fall a
month earlier, a central bank survey showed. Analysts at DBS Group, in a note, said that the near-term
strain on public books is unavoidable owing to the COVID-19
pandemic.
Indonesia is tackling the worst outbreak in the region, with
its case load accelerating in recent months.
Higher deficits will push borrowings in 2020-2022, likely
taking the public debt level to the upper end of 38%-40% of GDP
compared to 30% in end-2019, the analysts added.
Most other emerging Asian stocks edged higher as volumes
remained thin ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays, while
regional currencies strengthened against a weaker dollar.
The Thai baht THB=TH , Malaysian ringgit MYR= and the
Singapore dollar SGD= edged up about 0.2% each.
Among equities, the Thai benchmark .SETI gained for a
fourth consecutive day, while India .NSEI was on track for a
seven-day rally.
Investors also looked to regional central banks to gauge
their response to seasonal demand for cash ahead of holidays.
Vietnam's central bank has injected some $1.6 billion in
cash into the banking system over the past five trading days
VNOMO=SBVN , joining China and Indonesia which pumped liquidity
into their financial markets last week.
Analysts said COVID-19 disruptions have made it harder for
regional central banks to predict cash demand.
"The cash injection is typically higher going into the Lunar
New Year... but I think this is a bit special because of the
pandemic, which is why we're seeing more volatility in the
short-term interest rates", said Sim Moh Siong, FX strategist at
Bank of Singapore.
"Central banks have a bit more difficulty in estimating cash
demand because, unlike in the previous years, people cannot
travel, visit each other and go out as much".
Elsewhere, a Reuters poll showed Malaysia's economic slump
is expected to have deepened in the fourth quarter due to
sustained restrictions on movement and business to curb the
spread of COVID-19. Top losers on the Jakarta stock index .JKSE include
Superkrane Mitra Utama Tbk PT SKRN.Jk ; Satria Antaran Prima
Tbk PT SAPX.JK ; Buana Lintas Lautan Tbk PT BULL.JK
** Malaysia's 10-year benchmark yield is up 2.90 basis
points at 2.824%
Asia stock indexes and
currencies at 0741 GMT
COUNTRY FX RIC FX FX INDE STOCKS STOCK
DAILY YTD % X DAILY S YTD
% % %
Japan JPY= +0.38 -1.51 <.N2 0.40 7.51
25>
China
India INR=IN +0.11 +0.25 <.NS 0.77 8.94
EI>
Indones IDR= +0.04 +0.36 <.JK -0.58 3.24
ia SE>
Malaysi MYR= +0.20 -0.86 <.KL 0.91 -2.44
a SE>
Philipp PHP= +0.03 -0.07 <.PS 0.58 -1.04
ines I>
S.Korea
Singapo SGD= +0.23 -0.66 <.ST -0.03 3.05
re I>
Taiwan TWD=TP +1.50 +1.83 <.TW - 7.26
II>
Thailan THB=TH +0.17 -0.03 <.SE 0.60 5.25
d TI>