* China's Dec factory data contracts for first time in 19

mths

* Indonesian rupiah weakens 0.7 pct

* Thai baht strengthens 0.7 pct

(Adds text,what is produced crossword clue updates prices)

By Niyati Shetty

Jan 2 (Reuters) - Most Asian currencies fell on Wednesday,

shrugging off broad U.S. dollar weakness as gloomy factory

surveys added to worries about cooling regional and global

growth.

A private survey showed manufacturing in China, the world's

second-largest economy, contracted for the first time in 19

months in December as domestic and export orders continue to

weaken.

Factory activity also shrank in South Korea, Taiwan and

Malaysia, while Singapore reported much slower fourth-quarter

economic growth than expected.

China's economy is expected to slow further in coming

quarters, adding to pressure on other Asian exporters, Mizuho

bank said in a note.

Leading declines in the region, the Indonesia rupiah

dropped 0.7 percent to 14,475.00 per dollar. The currency

weakened about 6 percent against the greenback in 2018.

The Korean won faltered 0.3 percent, while the

Taiwan dollar also softened after weak manufacturing

reports.

The Indian rupee and the Malaysian ringgit

also retreated after softer manufacturing

readings.

Bucking the trend, the Thai baht strengthened 0.7

percent to 32.40 per dollar.

Thailand's monetary policy committee expects any future

policy tightening would be gradual, minutes from its last policy

meeting showed on Wednesday.

The Bank of Thailand raised rates by 25 basis points in

December, its first rate hike since 2011, to curb risks to

financial stability.

Also firming against the dollar was the Chinese yuan

and the Philippine peso.

The yuan strengthened on the first trading day of the new

year, supported by a firmer official yuan midpoint reflecting

broad weakness in the U.S. dollar. Traders said weaker

manufacturing readings had been expected.

SINGAPORE DOLLAR

The dollar dipped as one of the region's most stable

economies begins to feel the impact of trade frictions between

the United States and China.

The city-state reported fourth-quarter economic growth that

was about half as strong as expected after the manufacturing

sector shrank. The government forecast GDP growth in 2019 in the

range of 1.5 percent and 3.5 percent.

OCBC Bank in a note to clients said the contraction in

manufacturing showed that "the softening global demand

environment was starting to weigh into the year-end."

The following table shows rates for Asian currencies against

the dollar at 0531 GMT.

CURRENCIES VS U.S. DOLLAR

Currency Latest bid Previous day Pct Move

Japan yen 109.390 109.71 +0.29

Sing dlr 1.365 1.3631 -0.12

Taiwan dlr 30.793 30.733 -0.19

Korean won 1119.500 1115.7 -0.34

Baht 32.360 32.58 +0.68

Peso 52.490 52.58 +0.17

Rupiah 14475.000 14375 -0.69

Rupee 69.663 69.45 -0.31

Ringgit 4.135 4.13 -0.12

Yuan 6.856 6.8730 +0.25

Change so far in 2019

Currency Latest bid End 2018 Pct Move

Japan yen 109.390 109.56 +0.16

Sing dlr 1.365 1.3627 -0.15

Taiwan dlr 30.793 30.733 -0.19

Korean won 1119.500 1115.70 -0.34

Baht 32.360 32.55 +0.59

Peso 52.490 52.58 +0.17

Rupiah 14475.000 14375 -0.69

Rupee 69.663 69.77 +0.15

Ringgit 4.135 4.1300 -0.12

Yuan 6.856 6.8730 +0.25

(Reporting by Niyati Shetty in Bengaluru; Editing by Kim

Coghill)

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