* Taiwan dollar, Korean won top gains
* Indonesian stocks at over 1-year high
* U.S. dollar on shaky ground

By Roushni Nair
       Dec 4 (Reuters) - Most emerging Asian currencies and
stocks traded higher on Monday, as investors assessed remarks
from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell that reaffirmed
expectations that the U.S. monetary tightening cycle has come to
an end.
    The Malaysian ringgit, the South Korean won
 and Indonesian rupiah added 0.3% each, by 0323
GMT. Taiwanese dollar led the pack, gaining 0.5%. 
    While stocks in Bangkok, Manila, and Seoul
 rose over 0.3%, each, those in Jakarta advanced
nearly 1%, touching their highest level since October last year.
    Risk appetite improved on expectations the next move by the
Federal Reserve will be to cut rates, with Fed Chair Jerome
Powell on Friday declining the opportunity to push back hard
against aggressive market pricing.
    All eyes will be on the November U.S. jobs report on
Wednesday that could influence the outlook for U.S. interest
rates.
    The U.S. dollar index, which tracks the currency
against six major counterparts, was last hovering around
Friday's close at 103.28. The index lost over 3% of its value in
November, helping emerging Asian assets regain some lost ground.
    "While risk currencies may remain buoyed ahead of next
week's FOMC, "risk on" may not be unequivocally bold in shorting
the USD either," Vishnu Varathan, head of economics and strategy
at Mizuho Bank wrote. 
    Thailand's baht dipped 0.4%, and the Indian rupee
 traded largely flat. 
    Recent volatility in oil prices over the conflict in the
Middle East and uncertainty over OPEC+ voluntary output cuts
have dented confidence in net oil importing countries like India
and Thailand. 
    Markets will be watching out for a slate of regional
inflation data due later this week, with the Philippines on
Tuesday, Taiwan on Wednesday, and Thailand on Thursday. 
    Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) last week highlighted
still strong annual inflation for November, flagging higher
prices on food, electricity, and toll prices as primary factors
pushing prices upward. 
    In China, the yuan was largely flat after the
country's central bank set another firm fix for the local unit. 
    Trade figures for China are due later in the week with the
recent trend of softening exports to the U.S. overshadowing
gains in Asia. 
    "The RMB continues to be supported by the soft USD
environment but its domestic fundamentals paint a less upbeat
picture," analysts at HSBC said in a note. 

    
    HIGHLIGHTS:    
    ** South Korea to consult China over urea export delays 
    ** China Evergrande liquidation hearing adjourned to January
    ** In boost for Modi, BJP sweeps polls in three Indian
states 
    
    
  Asia stock indexes and currencies                          
 at 0448 GMT                                           
 COUNTRY   FX RIC          FX     FX    INDEX  STOCKS  STOCKS
                      DAILY %  YTD %            DAILY   YTD %
                                                    %  
 Japan                  +0.03  -10.6           -0.67   29.12
                                   6                   
 China                                                
 India                  -0.05  -0.73             1.39   13.50
 Indonesi               +0.20  +0.75             1.09    4.18
 a                                                     
 Malaysia               +0.24  -5.58            -0.25   -2.86
 Philippi               +0.25  +0.63             0.33   -4.58
 nes                                                   
 S.Korea                                              
 Singapor               -0.11  +0.37             0.40   -4.57
 e                                                     
 Taiwan                 +0.45  -2.00            -0.02   23.32
 Thailand               -0.20  -0.93             0.46  -16.90
 



    
 (Reporting by Roushni Nair in Bengaluru
Editing by Shri Navaratnam)