* Graphic: World FX rates http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
* Graphic: Foreign flows into Asian stocks https://tmsnrt.rs/3lKhL5I
* Bank Indonesia expected to hold interest rates - Reuters poll
* Singapore shares snap 5-day losing run
By Shashwat Awasthi
Sept 15 (Reuters) - Indonesia's stocks eased on Tuesday after two days of gains as investors
braced for a central bank rate decision later this week, underperforming other emerging Asian
markets supported by upbeat Chinese data.
Jakarta's stock market .JKSE was the biggest daily loser, falling 1.3% ahead of Thursday's
monetary policy meeting, with analysts in a Reuters poll betting the central bank would hold off
further lowering interest rates to avoid putting additional pressure on the rupiah. The rupiah IDR= firmed slightly on the day, while Taiwan's dollar TWD=TP led gains among
regional currencies against a subdued U.S. dollar.
The yuan CNY=CFXS hit a 16-month high on data showing China's industrial output
accelerated the most in eight months in August and retail sales grew for the first time this
year. The data supported markets in Malaysia .KLSE , South Korea .KS11 and Thailand .SETI at
the start of a full week, which will also see meetings from the U.S. Federal Reserve and Bank of
Japan. Philippine shares .PSI fell after the country reported a record number of COVID-19 deaths
for the second time in three days, calling into question its decision to relax social distancing
rules. But the shares later recouped losses to trade higher on the day. Bank Indonesia has had to intervene to stabilise the currency multiple times this month as
foreign investors worried about the central bank's independence, rising coronavirus cases, debt
and economic growth.
Indonesia also reported on Tuesday a worse-than-expected contraction of imports and exports
in August, with analysts at ING saying that slowing economic activity was capping demand for
capital goods and raw materials.
The dollar has been sold heavily against other major currencies in recent months and data on
speculative positions show global investors are net "long" emerging currencies against the
greenback after the Fed said it would target average inflation, giving it more flexibility to
spur growth. In Singapore, the FTSE Strait Times Index .STI advanced 0.6%. Jeffrey Halley, a strategist
with trading platform OANDA, attributed the move to sentiment around China's Tencent 0700.HK
choosing the city-state as its Asia hub. "With unemployment at record highs by Singapore standards, this will be seen as a welcome
shot of confidence in the local market," he said.
HIGHLIGHTS
** Indonesian 3-year benchmark yields ID3YT=RR are up 27.9 basis points at 4.971%
** Top losers on the Jakarta stock index include Destinasi Tirta Nusantara PDES.JK down
6.99%, Intan Baruprana Finance IBFN.JK down 6.92% and Sunson Textile Manufacturer SSTM.JK
down 6.87%
** Top gainers on the Singapore STI include Genting Singapore GENS.SI up 2.24%, Mapletree
Industrial Trust MAPI.SI up 2.22% and Thai Beverage TBEV.SI up 1.68%
Asia stock indexes and currencies at 0409 GMT
COUNTRY FX RIC FX DAILY % FX YTD % INDEX STOCKS DAILY % STOCKS YTD %
Japan JPY= +0.04 +2.77 .N225 -0.63 -1.04
China CNY=CFXS +0.32 +2.59 .SSEC 0.28 7.80
India INR=IN +0.00 -2.85 .NSEI 0.47 -5.55
Indonesia IDR= +0.13 -6.47 .JKSE -1.14 -19.00
Malaysia MYR= +0.27 -1.04 .KLSE 0.68 -4.23
Philippines PHP= +0.04 +4.63 .PSI -0.26 -23.47
S.Korea KRW=KFTC +0.24 -2.06 .KS11 0.48 11.01
Singapore SGD= +0.24 -1.22 .STI 0.64 -22.48
Taiwan TWD=TP +0.88 +3.00 .TWII 0.35 6.97
Thailand THB=TH +0.35 -4.17 .SETI 0.27 -19.24
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Emerging currencies positions versus the Dollar https://tmsnrt.rs/2Fzi6rh
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