Asian currencies advanced to a 14- year high after European leaders pledged more aid for Greece, easing concern the debt crisis will worsen and bolstering demand for emerging-market assets. The Bloomberg-JPMorgan Asia Dollar Index, which tracks the region’s 10 most-traded currencies excluding the yen, reached the highest level since Aug. 12, 1997 and headed for a weekly gain after the 159 billion euro ($229 billion) package was announced yesterday. China’s yuan rose to a 17-year high today, the Philippine peso reached a three-year peak and South Korea’s won touched the strongest level since August 2008. “It’s quite clear that the risk environment has improved significantly as the European summit agreement has helped to calm fears over the debt problems in Europe,” said Moh Siong Sim, a currency strategist at Bank of Singapore Ltd. The peso strengthened 1.2 percent this week to 42.412 versus the dollar as of 11:05 a.m. in Manila, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Malaysia’s ringgit appreciated 0.8 percent to 2.9825, Thailand’s baht climbed 0.8 percent to 29.85, Singapore’s dollar added 0.7 percent to S$1.2102 and the won rose 0.6 percent to 1,051.25. The ringgit reached a two-month high on speculation the central bank will raise borrowing costs after Governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz said curbing inflation is a priority. Consumer prices in Malaysia rose to a two-year high of 3.5 percent in June, according to official data released July 20. Philippine Fundamentals Positive “The ringgit could hold on to its strength as there are growing expectations that the Malaysian central bank will raise its policy rate,” said Calbert Loh, head of treasury at Bangkok Bank Bhd. in Kuala Lumpur. The peso gained the most this week since September after the International Monetary Fund said on July 20 that the near- term outlook for the Philippines was favorable. “The fundamentals, growth prospects and the fiscal side remain positive in the Philippines,” said Lito Biacora, vice president for treasury at Bank of the Philippine Islands in Manila. The baht was poised for a third weekly advance as overseas investors added to their holdings of the nation’s stocks. Global funds bought $370 million more Thai equities than they sold this week through yesterday, taking this month’s net purchases to $762 million. Indonesia’s rupiah appreciated 0.2 percent this week to 8,528 per dollar after Fitch Ratings said on July 19 that the country may achieve an investment-grade credit rating before the end of next year. Fitch rates Indonesia BB+, one step below investment grade. The yuan headed for its biggest weekly gain in almost three months after the central bank signaled it favors a stronger currency to curb inflation. The currency advanced 0.25 percent to 6.4465 per dollar this week and 0.08 percent today. Elsewhere, Taiwan’s dollar strengthened 0.2 percent this week to NT$28.851 and India’s rupee added 0.3 percent to 44.39. To contact the reporter on this story: Khalid Qayum in Singapore at kqayum@bloomberg.net Yumi Teso in Bangkok at yteso1@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: Sandy Hendry at shendry@bloomberg.net

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