* Yuan at weakest level since financial crisis
* Indian rupee at lowest in 8 months, week's worst performer
* Korean won slides as trade crisis with Japan deepens
* Thai baht sole gainer for the week, up 0.4%
(Adds text, updates prices)
By Rashmi Ashok
Aug 23 (Reuters) - Most emerging Asian currencies slipped on
Friday after China's yuan weakened to its lowest level in 11-1/2
years, while the Korean won came under added pressure as its
trade dispute with Japan escalated.
The offshore yuan CNH=D3 weakened briefly past 7.1 against
the dollar, while onshore spot yuan CNY=CFXS slipped as low as
7.0992 per dollar, its weakest since March 2008.
The People's Bank of China (PBOC) set the midpoint rate
CNY=PBOC at 7.0572 per dollar prior to market open - its
weakest level in 11-1/2 years, although it was much stronger
than traders had expected. The 7.1000 handle for both onshore and offshore yuan will be
key to watch, OCBC Treasury Research said in a note.
"We may enter a situation whereby the USD-RMB leads the rest
of USD-Asia higher," OCBC added.
The Korean won KRW=KFTC slipped as much as 0.6%, pressured
by the yuan's latest fall and rapidly deteriorating ties with
Japan.
South Korea said on Thursday it will scrap an
intelligence-sharing pact with Japan, drawing a swift protest
from Tokyo and deepening a decades-old dispute which is now
threatening to push Korea's economy into further distress.
The Indian rupee INR=IN slid as much as 0.3% to 72.035
against the dollar, its weakest level since Dec. 14, 2018.
The drop comes a day after minutes from the central bank's
monetary policy meeting revived expectations for further easing.
Broader trade was cautious, however, as markets awaited U.S.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's speech at a gathering of
central bankers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, later in the day (1400
GMT).
"If Powell sounds less dovish or hawkish, it will spur risk
aversion and undermine EM Asian currencies," said Gao Qi, FX
strategist at Scotiabank.
All units weakened in the previous session, after minutes
from the Fed's July meeting showed policymakers were deeply
divided on whether to cut interest rates last month, denting
expectations of aggressive cuts in the future. For the week, the Thai baht THB=TH was the sole gainer, up
around 0.4%, while the rupee was the worst performer, shedding
about 1.2%.
The following table shows rates for Asian currencies against
the dollar at 0513 GMT.
CURRENCIES VS U.S. DOLLAR
Currency Latest bid Previous day Pct Move
Japan yen 106.570 106.42 -0.14
Sing dlr 1.388 1.3853 -0.16
Taiwan dlr 31.386 31.384 -0.01
Korean won 1212.200 1207.4 -0.40
Baht 30.780 30.7825 +0.01
Peso 52.380 52.31 -0.13
Rupiah 14240.000 14230 -0.07
Rupee 71.785 71.81 +0.03
Ringgit 4.188 4.188 +0.00
Yuan 7.093 7.0830 -0.14
Change so far in 2019
Currency Latest bid End 2018 Pct Move
Japan yen 106.570 109.56 +2.81
Sing dlr 1.388 1.3627 -1.79
Taiwan dlr 31.386 30.733 -2.08
Korean won 1212.200 1115.70 -7.96
Baht 30.780 32.55 +5.75
Peso 52.380 52.47 +0.17
Rupiah 14240.000 14375 +0.95
Rupee 71.785 69.77 -2.81
Ringgit 4.188 4.1300 -1.38
Yuan 7.093 6.8730 -3.10