EMERGING MARKETS-Malaysian ringgit extends gains as PM appointment stirs stability hopes

* Ringgit hits highest level since Aug 15 * Stocks in Malaysia pare gains * Other regional FX, stocks mixed By Himanshi Akhand Nov 25 (Reuters) – Malaysia’s ringgit extended gains and touched a three-month high on Friday following Anwar Ibrahim’s appointment as prime minister, which put to rest uncertainty following last week’s inconclusive election. The ringgit, which was up for the third straight session, rose 0.8% against the U.S. dollar to its highest level since Aug. 15. Stocks in Kuala Lumpur slipped 1.2% after soaring more than 4% in the previous session. Anwar is expected to start discussions on forming his cabinet on Friday. His appointment ended five days of post-election crisis, but could usher in further instability with his rival, former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, challenging him to prove his majority in parliament. “The next key event to watch for will be the cabinet line-up and resuming parliament to re-table budget 2023,” analysts at UOB wrote. “Without a simple majority, there could be more challenges to push-through key reforms… It remains to be seen if key fiscal measures such as reintroducing a consumption based tax, carbon tax, and targeted subsidies will be implemented amid mounting macro headwinds.” Meanwhile, data showed that Malaysia’s consumer price index rose 4% in October from a year earlier, slightly faster than the forecast. Other regional currencies and equities were mixed as markets continued to digest signals from the U.S. Federal Reserve that hinted at a milder rate of policy tightening ahead. A majority of officials had agreed it would “likely soon be appropriate” to slow the pace of interest rate hikes, minutes of their latest meeting showed on Wednesday. The Thai baht added 0.6% and was set to post its third consecutive weekly gain. The Singaporean dollar added and Indian rupee gained 0.2% and 0.2%, respectively. Stocks in Indonesia and Thailand lost about 0.6% and 0.4% respectively, however, as risk sentiment remained fragile after China reported another record high of daily COVID-19 infections. Equities in Singapore retreated 0.5% and were set to post their first weekly loss in five. HIGHLIGHTS ** Malaysia’s 10-year benchmark yield is down 7.9 basis points at 4.172% ** Top losers on FTSE Bursa Malaysia Kl Index include Top Glove Corporation Bhd and Dialog Group Bhd ** Top losers on the Singapore STI include Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd and SATS Ltd Asia stock indexes and currencies at 0409 GMT COUNTRY FX RIC FX FX INDE STOCKS STOCKS DAILY % YTD % X DAILY YTD % % Japan +0.08 -16.9 <.N2 -0.33 -1.74 1 25> China <CNY=CFXS -0.06 -11.2 <.SS 0.39 -14.79 > 2 EC> India +0.15 -8.81 <.NS -0.14 6.37 EI> Indonesi -0.04 -9.06 <.JK -0.55 6.99 a SE> Malaysia +0.79 -6.53 <.KL -1.27 -5.40 SE> Philippi -0.28 -10.1 <.PS 0.24 -8.10 nes 5 I> S.Korea <KRW=KFTC +0.09 -10.4 <.KS -0.21 -18.19 > 1 11> Singapor +0.29 -1.61 <.ST -0.45 3.66 e I> Taiwan +0.55 -10.2 <.TW 0.04 -18.82 6 II> Thailand +0.59 -6.13 <.SE -0.39 -2.35 TI> (Reporting by Himanshi Akhand in Bengaluru; Editnig by Kim Coghill)

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