The South Korean won led the week's gains among emerging Asian currencies as investors sought out higher-yielding units against the yen and the euro, encouraged by ample liquidity, although worries of possible central bank intervention limited the gains.
Backed by such funds, the won rose 0.9 percent against the dollar, according to Thomson Reuters data. Dollar/won briefly broke through support at the 200-day moving average, hitting its lowest in nearly four months, on supplies from offshore players and exporters.
But the pair recouped some of its losses and moved back above support as investors covered short positions on wariness of possible intervention. Importers also bought the pair on dips. It also has technical support at 1,110 with the 55-week moving average at 1,109.8 and the 61.8 percent Fibonacci retracement of its August-September rise at 1,109.4. "I want to buy on dips here, although I don't expect big rises without intervention," said a foreign bank dealer in Seoul. Yen/won slid as far as 13.6654, the lowest since August, breaking through its 100-week moving average.
The cross-pair is seen having room to head to 13.3900, the 76.4 percent Fibonacci retracement of its rise from April to October last year. BNP Paribas currency strategist Thio Chin Loo in Singapore recommends selling yen/won, especially after data showing South Korean inflation eased and the manufacturing sector grew in February.
US dollar/Taiwan dollar slid on portfolio inflows, while interbank speculators sold it after the central bank was spotted mopping up the pair on Thursday at the close. US dollar/Philippine peso fell as some offshore funds and interbank speculators sold after stocks hit a record high, sparking expectations of more inflows. But speculators covered short positions as the pair has support at 42.60 for now, dealers said. Once the 42.60 support level is breached, it may head to 42.08 in coming weeks.
The Philippine peso has risen 0.4 percent against the dollar this week after losing 0.5 percent last week, while the Singapore dollar and the Taiwan dollar both gained 0.5 percent, Thomson Reuters data showed.
Standard Chartered said consensus estimates put post-flood insurance payouts in Thailand at $10 billion to $12 billion. Investors covered short dollar positions as dollar/baht has strong support at 30.20, the 76.4 percent Fibonacci retracement of its July-January rise. But the pair's upside is seen capped at 30.67, site of the 200-day moving average and a previous major low.
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