Most emerging Asian currencies slid on Thursday as the dollar broadly gained on solid US data and as disappointing Chinese manufacturing activity underscored concerns over a slowdown in the world's second-largest economy.

Indonesia's rupiah fell on month-end dollar demand from importers.

South Korea's won eased amid growing caution over possible intervention to stem its strength against the yen. The Singapore dollar bucked the trend as inflation in March eased less than expected. The US dollar rose versus a basket of six-major currencies after stronger-than-expected US home sales data. China's factory activity contracted at its fastest pace in a year in April, a private survey showed earlier, indicating the economy is still deteriorating.

"The dismal Chinese manufacturing number and strong US housing data may keep weighing on Asian currencies," said Yuna Park, a currency and bond analyst at Dongbu Securities in Seoul.

"However, given uncertainties over US rate hikes, those currencies are unlikely to get out of the recent consolidation."

RUPIAH The rupiah fell as local importers bought dollars for month-end payments and custodian banks joined the bids for the greenback. The central bank was spotted intervening through state-run lenders to prevent spot rupiah from weakening past 12,950 per dollar, traders said.

WON The won slid as caution grew over possible intervention by the foreign exchange authorities as it hovered near a seven-year high against the yen. The South Korean currency on Wednesday touched 8.9967 per the Japanese unit, its strongest since February 2008. That underscored concerns that South Korea's exporters are losing price competitiveness against Japanese rivals. The won pared some of earlier losses as foreign investors were set to extended a buying spree in Seoul's main stock market to a 13th consecutive session. Foreigners bought a combined net 3.9 trillion won ($3.6 billion) worth of equities during the period, the Korea Exchange data showed.

SINGAPORE DOLLAR The Singapore dollar gained on month-end demand from corporates and as leveraged funds bought it. The city-state's currency hit a session high of 1.3448 after data showing consumer prices in March fell 0.3 per cent from a year earlier, less than a market expectation of a 0.5 per cent slide. The data came after the central bank on April 14 unexpectedly held off from further easing.

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