EM ASIA FX-Yellen helps Asia currencies crawl higher; trading subdued

* Baht firms on capital inflows, 32.15/dlr seen as

resistance

* Singapore dollar weaker after disappointing exports

(Adds text, updates prices)

By Jongwoo Cheon

SINGAPORE, April 17 (Reuters) - Most emerging Asian

currencies edged up on Thursday as the dollar eased broadly

after U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen's dovish comments

on monetary policy, while trading was subdued ahead of a holiday

in some markets.

The Thai baht led gains on foreign funds' inflows

to the country's stocks and bonds.

Yellen said on Wednesday that persistently low inflation

poses a more immediate threat to the U.S. economy than rising

prices, stressing that the U.S. central bank would be delivering

policy stimulus for some time to come.

Still, investors hesitated to add more bullish bets on

emerging Asian currencies with regional equities making just a

slight gain following disappointing results from Google Inc and

IBM Corp.

Also, some regional markets such as Singapore and Hong Kong

will be closed for the Easter holiday on Friday.

"It is not a time to invest with strong conviction.

Investors are just jabbing," said Jeong My-young, Samsung

Futures' research head in Seoul.

BAHT

The baht rose as foreign investors bought government bonds

and Thai stocks.

The 10-year bond yield fell to 3.53 percent, its

lowest since May 31, while the five-year yield slid

to 3.08 percent, the lowest since June 7.

Still, traders said the baht is unlikely to strengthen past

32.15 per dollar as ongoing political unrest is expected to drag

on the economy.

SINGAPORE DOLLAR

The Singapore dollar turned weaker after March exports fell

more than expected, darkening the city-state's trade outlook.

Non-oil domestic exports slid 6.6 percent in March from a

year earlier, according to the trade agency International

Enterprise Singapore, far below a median forecast of a 0.8

percent dip in a Reuters poll.

Before the data, the Singapore dollar had risen as much as

0.2 percent to 1.2485 to the U.S. dollar.

CURRENCIES VS U.S. DOLLAR

Change on the day at 0440 GMT

Currency Latest bid Previous day Pct Move

Japan yen 102.02 102.24 +0.22

Sing dlr 1.2510 1.2508 -0.02

Taiwan dlr 30.152 30.201 +0.16

Korean won 1038.40 1037.70 -0.07

Baht 32.20 32.26 +0.19

*Peso 44.43 44.43 +0.00

Rupiah 11430.00 11432.00 +0.02

Rupee 60.35 60.37 +0.03

Ringgit 3.2410 3.2420 +0.03

Yuan 6.2181 6.2214 +0.05

Change so far in 2014

Currency Latest bid End prev year Pct Move

Japan yen 102.02 105.28 +3.19

Sing dlr 1.2510 1.2632 +0.98

Taiwan dlr 30.152 29.950 -0.67

Korean won 1038.40 1055.40 +1.64

Baht 32.20 32.86 +2.05

Peso 44.43 44.40 -0.08

Rupiah 11430.00 12160.00 +6.39

Rupee 60.35 61.80 +2.40

Ringgit 3.2410 3.2755 +1.06

Yuan 6.2181 6.0539 -2.64

* Financial markets in the Philippines are closed until

Friday for holidays.

(Additional reporting by Satawasin Staporncharnchai in BANGKOK;

Editing by Chris Gallagher)