* Offshore funds sell won, ringgit * Rupiah down on importers' dollar demand (Adds text, updates prices) By Jongwoo Cheon SINGAPORE, Aug 20 (Reuters) - The South Korean won led losses among emerging Asian currencies on Wednesday as the dollar hit an 11-month high on strong U.S. housing data. Offshore funds sold the wonKRW=KFTC and the Malaysian ringgitMYR=MY . The Indonesian rupiahIDR=ID slid on month-end corporate dollar demand and on worries over the nation's current account and budget deficits. China's yuanCNY=CFXS broke a five-session rising streak after the central bank set the official guidance rate slightly weaker.CNY/ The dollar.DXY rose to a near one-year high against a basket of six-major currencies after data showed U.S. housing and building permits rebounded strongly in July. That indicated the housing market was back on track after stalling in the second half of last year.ID:nLNSJJEAJR "Solid U.S. data usually boost sentiment for long dollar bets against all other currencies in these days," said Jeong My-young, Samsung Futures' research head in Seoul. "Pressure on Asian currencies, however, is likely smaller than others as funds are moving from Europe to Asia," Jeong said. In terms of potential catalysts, investors are focusing on the U.S. Federal Reserve's minutes from the July 29-30 policy meeting, as well as Fed Chair Janet Yellen's speech on Friday at a gathering of central bankers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. WON The won slid, tracking its weakness in non-deliverable forwardsKRWNDFOR= markets as offshore funds covered short positions in the dollar. Investors were also wary of possible intervention by the foreign exchange authorities to curb the won's appreciation. The South Korean currency pared some of its earlier losses as traders said it was facing chart support at 1,021.8, a 55-day moving average. RUPIAH The rupiah fell on dollar demand from local importers for month-end payments. Investors remained concerned over Indonesia's twin deficits with the current account gap widening more than expected in the second quarter and the outgoing government's draft 2014 budget failing to mention a fuel subsidy cut. "The main focus and driver for Indonesian assets is the fuel subsidy," said Sean Yokota, head of Asia strategy for Scandinavian bank SEB in a client note. "We prefer to be sidelined on USD/IDR and underweight bonds until Jokowi introduces the fuel subsidy cuts, which we expect late this year or early 2015 after Jokowi takes office in late October," Yokota said, referring to President-elect Joko Widodo. RINGGIT The ringgit eased as offshore funds took profits from its recent strength, while bond prices were also largely lower. "Despite some day-to-day fluctuations, the dollar will rise eventually," said a senior Malaysian bank trader in Kuala Lumpur. CURRENCIES VS U.S. DOLLAR Change on the day at 0430 GMT Currency Latest bid Previous day Pct Move Japan yen 103.10 102.91 -0.18 Sing dlr 1.2476 1.2474 -0.02 Taiwan dlr 29.985 30.042 +0.19 Korean won 1021.50 1017.30 -0.41 Baht 31.92 31.86 -0.17 Peso 43.82 43.65 -0.40 Rupiah 11710.00 11678.00 -0.27 Rupee 60.82 60.68 -0.23 Ringgit 3.1650 3.1570 -0.25 Yuan 6.1461 6.1418 -0.07 Change so far in 2014 Currency Latest bid End prev year Pct Move Japan yen 103.10 105.28 +2.11 Sing dlr 1.2476 1.2632 +1.25 Taiwan dlr 29.985 29.950 -0.12 Korean won 1021.50 1055.40 +3.32 Baht 31.92 32.86 +2.96 Peso 43.82 44.40 +1.31 Rupiah 11710.00 12160.00 +3.84 Rupee 60.82 61.80 +1.62 Ringgit 3.1650 3.2755 +3.49 Yuan 6.1461 6.0539 -1.50 (Editing by Shri Navaratnam) ((jongwoo.cheon@thomsonreuters.com)(+65 6870-3841)(Reuters Messaging: jongwoo.cheon.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net)) ((For the new Reuters scrolling global forex service please clickFXNEWS ((Multimedia versions of Reuters Top News are now available for: * 3000 Xtra : visithttp://topnews.session.rservices.com * BridgeStation: view story .134 For more information on Top News, please visithttp://topnews.reuters.com )) Double click on brackets for following items: Asian currenciesAFX= Asian currencies in AsiaAFX=A Malaysian ringgitMYRX= Indonesian rupiahIDRX= Singapore dollarSGDX= Thai bahtTHBX= Taiwan dollarTWDX= Hong Kong dollarHKDX= Philippine pesoPHP= Korean wonKRW= SPEED GUIDESMONEY ASEAN= Exotic currenciesEXOTIC/1 Non-G7 currenciesCCY/1 RELATED NEWS AND OTHER TOPICS All Singapore newsSG All Malaysian newsMY ThailandTH IndonesiaID Hong KongHK TaiwanTW PhilippinesPH KoreaKR All emerging marketsEMRG All foreign exchange newsFRX Foreign exchange technical analysisFRX&INSI )) Keywords: MARKETS ASIA FOREX/
EM ASIA FX-Won leads Asia FX slides on strong U.S. housing data
* Offshore funds sell won, ringgit * Rupiah down on importers&apos dollar demand (Adds text, updates prices) By Jongwoo Cheon SINGAPORE, Aug 20 (Reuters) - The South Korean won led losses among emerging Asian currencies on Wednesday as the dollar hit an 11-month high on strong U.S. housing data. Offshore funds sold the won KRW=KFTC and the Malaysian ringgit MYR=MY
August 20, 2014




















