* Graphic: World FX rates http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
* Graphic: Foreign flows into Asian stocks https://tmsnrt.rs/3f2vwbA
* U.S. April inflation rises by most in nearly 12 years
* Outlook for EM financial assets troublesome - BCA Research
* Taiwan stocks end lower, down 9.3% so far this week
By Rashmi Ashok
May 13 (Reuters) - Asian equities fell on Thursday after
data showing a jump in U.S. inflation reinforced fears that the
Federal Reserve would raise interest rates sooner than planned,
while Taiwan's stocks slumped for a third session on fears of a
COVID-19 resurgence.
Currencies were also broadly weaker as the U.S. dollar stood
tall following the inflation data, with the South Korean won
KRW=KFTC down 0.5% to a six-week low, while the Thai baht
THB=TH was off 0.4%.
Markets in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the
Philippines were closed for the Eid festival.
Overnight, U.S. stocks tumbled after data showed consumer
prices increased by the most in nearly 12 years last month,
raising bets of a Fed rate hike as early as December next year.
Higher U.S. rates put pressure on Asian markets, which
yield-seekers usually prefer given their relatively higher
interest rates. Furthermore, resurgences of COVID-19 would make
it harder for Asian central banks to match a potential rate-hike
cycle in the United States.
"Rising U.S. bond yields and a budding global risk-off move
will likely trigger a rebound in the greenback," analysts at BCA
Research wrote.
"The outlook for EM financial assets remains troublesome and
we continue underweighting EM equities and credit versus their
developed market peers."
Shares in Taipei .TWII ended 1.5% lower despite reports
that the island's finance ministry called state-owned banks to
"suggest" they buy stocks amid steep falls in the stock market,
according to Reuters sources. The index fell 4% on Wednesday after authorities warned that
Taiwan could face tighter restrictions that would shut
non-essential businesses, after a rise in new domestic COVID-19
infections earlier this week.
In the previous two sessions, the stock index lost nearly
8%. By April-end, it had clocked a massive 100% rise from lows
touched in March last year, as demand for its electronics
exports skyrocketed due to the shift to working from home.
HIGHLIGHTS
** Equities in Thailand .SETI fell nearly 1%, with energy
firms PTT PTT.BK down 0.6% and Gulf Energy Development
GULF.BK down 1.5%
** Thailand's 10-year government bond yields are up 2 basis
points at 1.68%, while the 3-year benchmark yield is up 1
basis point at 0.57%
** Japanese stocks decline 2.5% to a 4-month low; SoftBank
Group 9984.T tumbles as tech shares come under pressure
Asia stock indexes and
currencies at 0642 GMT
COUNTRY FX RIC FX FX INDE STOCKS STOCK
DAILY YTD % X DAILY S YTD
% % %
Japan JPY= +0.05 -5.79 <.N2 -2.49 0.01
25>
China
S.Korea
Taiwan TWD=TP -0.09 +1.80 <.TW -1.46 6.36
II>
Thailan THB=TH -0.35 -4.37 <.SE -0.96 7.41
d TI>