* Thai economy avoids recession in Q2     * Won at 5-week high on exporters, catch-up plays   (Adds text, updates prices)     By Jongwoo Cheon     Aug 18 (Reuters) - Most emerging Asian currencies gained on Monday, with the Thai baht near a three-week high after second-quarter growth data, despite caution ahead of a top central bankers' meeting at the Federal Reserve's annual Jackson Hole symposium this week.     The baht  
  THB=TH
   gained as much as 0.2 percent to 31.78 per dollar, its strongest since July 29, after data showing the economy expanded 0.9 percent in the second quarter, avoiding a technical recession.  
  ID:nAAN0OG01N
       The won  
  KRW=KFTC
   hit its strongest in more than five weeks on exporters' demand and catch-up plays as South Korea's financial markets were closed on Friday when most emerging Asian currencies rose.     The Taiwan dollar  
  TWD=TP
   gained after the island's statistic agency on Friday raised its forecast for this year's growth helped by the launch of new tech-products such as Apple's iPhone 6.  
  ID:nL4N0QC0SS
       Investors are keeping an eye on the Jackson Hole symposium starting on Thursday for clues on the timing of the Fed's interest rate hike.     Emerging Asian currencies are likely to see corrections once the Fed signals it would raise interest rates soon, analysts and traders said.     But regional units may find some relief if other major monetary authorities such as the European Central Bank indicated needs of further policy easing, they added.     "Beyond the Fed, we think the fact that the other global central banks perceive themselves to be at different points," said OCBC Bank in a client note.              WON     The won gained as much as 0.4 percent to 1,016.9 per dollar, its strongest since July 11.     The South Korean currency pared some of earlier gains as caution grew over possible intervention by the foreign exchange authorities to check further strength in the won.     "Basically, few players want to buy the won around 1,017 given intervention caution and importers' dollar demand," said a South Korean bank traders in Seoul.     The won is also seen facing a chart resistance at 1,016.2, the 76.4 percent Fibonacci retracement of its depreciation between July and early August.      CURRENCIES VS U.S. DOLLAR     Change on the day at 0315 GMT   Currency    Latest bid   Previous day    Pct Move   Japan yen       102.28         102.34       +0.06   Sing dlr        1.2454         1.2445       -0.07   Taiwan dlr      29.965         30.035       +0.23   Korean won     1017.70        1021.20       +0.34   Baht             31.79          31.85       +0.17   Peso             43.67          43.67       +0.01   Rupiah        11685.00       11670.00       -0.13  *Rupee            60.76          60.76       +0.00   Ringgit         3.1525         3.1545       +0.06   Yuan            6.1464         6.1470       +0.01     Change so far in 2014   Currency    Latest bid  End prev year    Pct Move   Japan yen       102.28         105.28       +2.93   Sing dlr        1.2454         1.2632       +1.43   Taiwan dlr      29.965         29.950       -0.05   Korean won     1017.70        1055.40       +3.70   Baht             31.79          32.86       +3.37   Peso             43.67          44.40       +1.67   Rupiah        11685.00       12160.00       +4.07   Rupee            60.76          61.80       +1.71   Ringgit         3.1525         3.2755       +3.90   Yuan            6.1464         6.0539       -1.50   * Indian currency and bond markets are closed for a holiday.   (Additional reporting by KyoungHo Lee in SEOUL; Editing by Kim Coghill)  ((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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