* Graphic: World FX rates http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
* Graphic: Foreign flows into Asian stocks https://tmsnrt.rs/3f2vwbA
* Singapore shares set to snap two-day losing streak
* Outlook for lower long term U.S. rates buoy Asia FX
* Spike in COVID-19 infections hits Indonesian markets
By Shriya Ramakrishnan
Aug 28 (Reuters) - Asian currencies edged up on Friday as
investors bet that the U.S. Federal Reserve's new strategy to
lift inflation and spur growth will keep its interest rates
lower for longer, supporting rate differentials with the
region's higher-yielding emerging markets.
Taiwan's dollar TWD=TP again led gains, up more than half
a percent, while the Philippine peso PHP= rose around 0.3%,
while South Korea's won KRW=KFTC and the Singapore dollar
SGD= were more subdued, edging up around 0.1%.
"Powell's speech is bearish for the USD over the medium to
long term because U.S. real interest rates will have room to
fall further into negative territory," said Joseph Capurso, head
of international economics at CBA.
The broader message from the Fed of more efforts to boost
growth pushed U.S. 10-year bond yields higher, however,
providing some support to the dollar and keeping a lid on flows
into riskier Asian assets.
Yields on long-dated government bonds for Thailand
TH10YT=RR and Indonesia ID10YT=RR were up 7.5 and 6.4 basis
points (bps) each, and both the Indonesian rupiah IDR= and
Malaysian ringgit MYR= traded lower on the day.
"If the U.S. curve steepens by more than 50-75 bps from
here, the impact on Asian markets could be material," said
Duncan Tan, interest rates strategist at DBS.
"In that scenario, we would likely see reallocation of
global capital away from Asia and to the U.S., leading to higher
rates and weaker currencies in Asia."
In Indonesia, the rupiah weakened 0.2% and stocks .JKSE
slipped as the country reported its biggest daily spike in
coronavirus infections. Singapore shares .STI rose 1.8% following overnight gains
on Wall Street, while Thai shares .SETI were up about half a
percent.
South Korea's export-focused KOSPI .KS11 also recovered
from a more than 1% fall in the previous session. Facing a surge
in new coronavirus cases, the government decided to extend
current social distancing measures instead of moving to tougher
restrictions, easing concerns about further economic fallout.
KRW/
HIGHLIGHTS:
** Malaysia's 10-year benchmark yield MY10YT=RR is up 2.9
basis points at 2.65%
** Top gainers on the Singapore STI .STI include Singapore
Airlines Ltd SIAL.SI up 3.58% at S$3.76, SATS Ltd SATS.SI up
3.07% at S$3.02, Keppel Corporation Ltd KPLM.SI up 3.06% at
S$4.71
** In the Philippines, top index losers are Megaworld Corp
MEG.PS down 3.32% at 2.91 peso; Ayala Land Inc ALI.PS down
3.03% at 28.8 peso; SM Investments Corp SM.PS down 2.63% at
850 peso
Asia stock indexes and
currencies at 0427 GMT
COUNTRY FX RIC FX FX INDEX STOCK STOCKS
DAILY YTD % S YTD %
% DAILY
%
Japan JPY= -0.22 +1.70 .N225 0.56 -1.34
China