EMERGING MARKETS-Asian shares gain as Middle East tensions cap risk appetite

By Shivangi Lahiri

March 24 (Reuters) - Most emerging Asian equities rose back to early session highs as investors traded cautiously while weighing the economic fallout from the Middle East conflict after Iran denied talks with the U.S. to end the war.

South Korea's KOSPI index .KS11 jumped more than 4% early in the session, but closed up 2.7% in Seoul. Stocks in Taiwan .TWII reversed course to end down 0.3% after rising as much as 2%.

The broader MSCI EM Asia equities index .MIMS00000PUS remained up 2%, with gains tempered by mixed moves in the two tech-heavy markets. MSCI's Asia-Pacific ex-Japan index .MIAPJ0000PUS rose 1.6%.

South Korea's won KRW=KFTC remained under pressure near 17-year lows, with Reuters reporting that the state-run National Pension Service was carrying out strategic FX hedging operations.

The won was last quoted at 1,500.5 against the dollar.

In Southeast Asia, Singapore's FTSE Straits Times .STI was last up 0.6%, while Bangkok shares .SETI gained 1.5% after rising as much as 1.8% earlier in the session.

Markets briefly took comfort after U.S. President Donald Trump said he had postponed a threat to bomb Iran's power grid following "productive" talks with Tehran, though the mood faded after Iran denied any negotiations.

With many Asian economies heavily reliant on imported oil, crude's rebound back above $100 a barrel renewed concern over the region's vulnerability to price swings. O/R

"The most exposed parts of EM Asia are importers with weaker external balances, particularly India, Thailand, and the Philippines, where higher oil prices feed directly into inflation and current account pressure," said Billy Leung, investment strategist at Global X ETFs Australia.

"In this environment, foreign investors tend to rotate into traditional defensives such as USD, gold and developed market bonds, while regional investors have been more selective, focusing on domestic themes and selectively adding on weakness rather than chasing broad risk."

Equity markets across the region are down 1% to 14% this month, led by steep declines in South Korea .KS11 and Indonesia .JKSE.

Asian currencies also weakened, with the Thai baht THB= at 32.44 per dollar and the Philippine peso PHP= at 60.104.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told Bloomberg Television on Tuesday that his government will tolerate weakness in the peso, saying there is a limit to their defense of the currency as market forces drive up the dollar.

In Malaysia, stocks .KLSE pared some losses to slip 0.2% and the ringgit MYR= traded slightly weaker against the dollar at 3.947. The country's equity markets have been largely spared the Mideast-driven outflows thanks to strong fundamentals and limited energy exposure.

Equity and currency trading in Indonesia .JKSE, IDR= will resume on Wednesday.

HIGHLIGHTS

Yield on Singapore's 10 year bonds SG10YT=RR at 2.254%, hovering around highest since early Jan 2026

Japanese bonds rise as Trump delays Iran strike plans

BOJ chief expects limited impact on inflation from proposed food tax freeze

Philippines warns oil price hike could send inflation soaring, slow growth