* Ringgit hits 5-1/2 year low versus dollar
* But most Asian currencies steady to firmer versus dollar
* Drop in U.S. bond yields helps keep dollar in check
By Masayuki Kitano
SINGAPORE, Jan 13 (Reuters) - The Malaysian ringgit hit a
5-1/2 year low versus the dollar on Tuesday, dented by a renewed
slide in oil prices, underperforming on a day when most other
Asian currencies were steady to firmer.
The ringgit touched a low of 3.5870 versus the
dollar as of 0626 GMT, its lowest level since July 2009
according to Reuters data.
The ringgit fell as oil prices came under renewed pressure,
with Brent crude falling to its lowest level in more
than five years.
"The drop in oil prices will renew the pressure on the
ringgit," Citi strategist Gaurav Garg said in a research note,
adding that market sentiment towards Malaysian assets is likely
to worsen despite a recent bounce in the prices of crude palm
oil (CPO).
"Even though CPO prices have risen 12 percent since mid-
December (as floods threaten supply) and despite the buffer from
the geographically segmented nature of the natural gas market,
market sentiment towards Malaysian assets will likely sour
because fiscal policy becomes more challenging as energy prices
fall."
The cost of insuring Malaysian sovereign debt has risen the
most this year compared with that of its Southeast Asian peers
as state investor 1MDB's financing woes grew and concerns
deepened about the prospects for the net oil exporter's
petroleum revenues.
Other than the ringgit, most Asian currencies were steady to
firmer versus the dollar.
A fall in U.S. Treasury yields was helping to weigh on the
greenback and lending some support to Asian currencies, said
Satoshi Okagawa, senior global markets analyst for Sumitomo
Mitsui Banking Corporation in Singapore.
"The focus is on the dollar rather than Asia, so it all
hinges on how the dollar performs," Okagawa said, referring to
the near-term outlook for Asian currencies.
The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield has fallen roughly 7 basis
points this week, and last stood near 1.900 percent.
SOUTH KOREAN WON
The won eased back versus the dollar, after touching a fresh
two-month high of 1077.2 earlier on Tuesday.
The won had gained support earlier after a rally in the
Japanese yen tempered worries over possible won-selling
intervention by the financial authorities. The Japanese yen
touched a one-month high versus dollar earlier on Tuesday, but
later fell back.
Investors have reined in overly bullish views on the won
bearing in mind that South Korean authorities have a
predisposition towards keeping the currency competitive against
the Japanese yen.
CURRENCIES VS U.S. DOLLAR
Change on the day at 0625 GMT
Currency Latest bid Previous day Pct Move
Japan yen 118.68 118.38 -0.26
Sing dlr 1.3352 1.3342 -0.07
Taiwan dlr 31.821 31.856 +0.11
Korean won 1082.36 1081.40 -0.09
Baht 32.85 32.89 +0.11
Peso 44.83 44.88 +0.10
Rupiah 12600.00 12595.00 -0.04
Rupee 62.09 62.14 +0.08
Ringgit 3.5870 3.5670 -0.56
Yuan 6.2019 6.2036 +0.03
Change so far in 2015
Currency Latest bid End prev year Pct Move
Japan yen 118.68 119.66 +0.83
Sing dlr 1.3352 1.3260 -0.69
Taiwan dlr 31.821 31.718 -0.32
Korean won 1082.36 1099.30 +1.57
Baht 32.85 32.90 +0.15
Peso 44.83 44.72 -0.25
Rupiah 12600.00 12380.00 -1.75
Rupee 62.09 63.03 +1.51
Ringgit 3.5870 3.4965 -2.52
Yuan 6.2019 6.2040 +0.03
https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/em-asia-fx-ringgit-hits-063658629.html