* Graphic: World FX rates http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
* Graphic: Foreign flows into Asian stocks https://tmsnrt.rs/3f2vwbA
* Indonesian rupiah hits one-month low, down for 6th session
* Baht eases 0.6% to two-week low, larger budget gap on
cards
* Philippines climbs nearly 3%; restrictions eased in
capital
By Rashmi Ashok
July 2 (Reuters) - Indonesian stocks and currency moved in
opposite directions on Thursday as rate cut bets rose, while the
Philippines led a rally in broader Asian shares on hopes of a
coronavirus vaccine.
The rupiah IDR= fell 0.8% to hit a month's low and was on
track for a sixth-straight session of losses, while shares rose
0.8%. Data on Wednesday showed Indonesia's inflation rate in
June slowed to narrowly miss the central bank's target range.
Given the benign inflation outlook, ANZ Research analysts
expect Bank Indonesia to cut rates in the third quarter, the
fourth time this year. However, rupiah depreciation poses a
challenge.
The central bank agreed on Monday to buy low-yielding bonds
to help the government fund a ballooning fiscal deficit amid
surging new coronavirus cases and investors have been growing
uneasy over this 'debt monetization'. "We expect the rupiah to face depreciation pressure in the
coming days with the central bank stepping up its triple
intervention while sentiment remains fragile," analysts at ING
wrote in a note.
'Triple intervention' refers to BI's intervention in the
domestic non-deliverable forwards market, the spot foreign
exchange market and the bond market to stabilise the rupiah.
The Thai baht THB=TH eased 0.6% and was tracking towards
its biggest drop since June 12 after the country's parliament
began debate on a budget bill that projects a larger deficit for
the 2021 fiscal year, as the government tries to prop up a
flagging economy. "Robust current account surplus was one factor anchoring
baht positivity earlier and this is at threat now," analysts at
Maybank wrote.
Broader Asian equities rallied on hopes for a COVID-19
vaccine, after an early-stage trial indicated Pfizer PFE.N and
Germany's BioNTech BNTX.O vaccine candidate was well tolerated
and showed promise. Philippine stocks .PSI rose most, climbing 2.8% to hit a
three-week high.
The market saw a breakout today, joining Asian peers over
positive results in early trials for Pfizer's experimental
coronavirus vaccine, said Jennifer Lomboy, fixed-income fund
manager at First Metro Asset Management in Manila.
Foreign selling has dried up after weeks of sustained daily
selling of more than $20 million, with foreigners net buyers for
the second day in a row, she added.
Plans to further ease curbs in capital city Manila also
helped. https:// "Investors may have also been reacting to comments from
government officials who seem to be supportive of a quick
removal of mobility restrictions to jump start the economy,"
said Nicholas Mapa, ING's senior economist for Philippines.
HIGHLIGHTS:
** Malaysia's 10-year benchmark yield slips as much as 5.8
basis points to 2.949% ** In the Philippines, top index gainers were First Gen Corp
FGEN.PS adding 8% and Bank of the Philippine Islands BPI.PS
rising 4.9%
** Top gainers on the Jakarta stock index .JKSE included
Bank Oke Indonesia DNAR.JK up 33.73% and Global Teleshop
GLOB.JK up 32.19%
Asia stock indexes and
currencies at 0659 GMT
COUNTRY FX RIC FX FX YTD INDEX STOCKS STOCKS
DAILY % DAILY % YTD %
%
Japan JPY= -0.03 +1.04 .N225 0.11 -6.39
China