* Yuan ignores c.bank weaker midpoint fixing     * Taiwan dollar gains as stocks rise more than 1 pct     * Firm U.S. dollar limits Asia FX upside   (Adds text, updates prices)     By Jongwoo Cheon     SINGAPORE, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Most emerging Asian currencies crawled higher on Tuesday with the Chinese yuan at a five-month high as geopolitical tensions over the conflict in Ukraine eased. The firm dollar, however, kept trading ranges tight.     Spot yuan  
  CNY=CFXS
   rose 0.1 percent to 6.1368 per dollar, its strongest since March 13, amid confidence in China's economy even though the central bank set a lower official guidance rate.  
  CNY/
       The Taiwan dollar  
  TWD=TP
   advanced on strong domestic stocks, while the Malaysian ringgit  
  MYR=MY
   rose on solid economic fundamentals.     Regional equities gained after Russia's foreign ministry said on Monday a 'certain progress' was achieved during talks among Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France over the weekend.  
  ID:nL5N0QO09D
       Still, the easing tensions over Ukraine, as well as a solid U.S. housing data, supported the dollar  
  .DXY
  .     Investors are closely watching Wednesday's release of minutes from the Federal Reserve's July policy meeting and comments from a global central bankers' meeting in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, starting on Thursday.     "I wouldn't expect strong hawkish signals from Jackson Hole," said Yuna Park, a currency and bond analyst at Dongbu Securities in Seoul.     "If expectations of a delay in the Fed's interest hike build up, Asia FX will strengthen further. Weak economic fundamentals in Europe may also drive more funds to Asia."          TAIWAN DOLLAR     The Taiwan dollar rose from the previous close, which traders said the central bank weakened with characteristic last-minute intervention.     The island's stocks  
  .TWII
   rose more than 1 percent, outperforming regional peers.     Foreign financial institutions, however, bought the U.S. dollar on the greenback's overall strength, limiting the Taiwan dollar's gains.     Local exporters also hesitated to buy the Taiwan dollar.          RINGGIT     The ringgit edged up as interbank speculators bought it on expectations of further capital inflows.     Malaysia's economy grew faster than expected in the second quarter, causing some analysts to expect another interest rate hike.  
  ID:nL4N0QK2BN
       Still, the ringgit pared some of its earlier gains as importers' demand for dollar surfaced.      CURRENCIES VS U.S. DOLLAR     Change on the day at 0400 GMT   Currency    Latest bid   Previous day    Pct Move   Japan yen       102.57         102.56       -0.01   Sing dlr        1.2438         1.2446       +0.06   Taiwan dlr      29.979         30.040       +0.20   Korean won     1017.20        1017.60       +0.04   Baht             31.82          31.82       -0.01   Peso             43.67          43.68       +0.02   Rupiah        11675.00       11683.00       +0.07   Rupee            60.68          60.76       +0.14   Ringgit         3.1518         3.1565       +0.15   Yuan            6.1368         6.1437       +0.11     Change so far in 2014   Currency    Latest bid  End prev year    Pct Move   Japan yen       102.57         105.28       +2.64   Sing dlr        1.2438         1.2632       +1.56   Taiwan dlr      29.979         29.950       -0.10   Korean won     1017.20        1055.40       +3.76   Baht             31.82          32.86       +3.26   Peso             43.67          44.40       +1.66   Rupiah        11675.00       12160.00       +4.15   Rupee            60.68          61.80       +1.85   Ringgit         3.1518         3.2755       +3.92   Yuan            6.1368         6.0539       -1.35        (Additional reporting by Emily Chan in TAIPEI; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)  ((jongwoo.cheon@thomsonreuters.com)(+65 6870-3841)(Reuters Messaging: jongwoo.cheon.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))   ((For the new Reuters scrolling global forex service please click  
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