EM ASIA FX-Most Asian currencies firm ahead of Sino-U.S. trade talks

* Chinese yuan strengthens most * Thai baht edges lower, bucks trend * High-level China-U.S. trade talks awaited (Adds text, updates prices) By Shreya Mariam Job Oct 8 (Reuters) - Most Asian currencies edged higher on Tuesday with the Chinese yuan firming the most after reopening from a week long holiday while investors held positions ahead of the high level Sino-U.S. trade talks on Thursday and Friday. Prospects for progress in U.S.-China trade talks dimmed on Monday after Washington blacklisted Chinese companies but comments by U.S. President Donald Trump and his top economic adviser, Larry Kudlow on looming trade talks were generally upbeat. "We think there's a chance we could do something very substantial," Trump said about the talks. This comes after a media report stated that China is looking to narrow the scope of the talks. "China is realistic and would only target issues that both countries have agreed on this week," a DBS note said. However, sentiment seemed buoyed on hopes of a partial deal despite Washington's move to blacklist Chinese companies. The Chinese yuan reopened after a week long holiday to strengthen 0.3%. "Hopes have emerged on trade talks, inspired by reports that Beijing is preparing to work through tough negotiations with the U.S., setting a time-line for the thorny issues," Vishnu Varathan, senior economist at Mizuho Bank said in a note. The Philippine peso firmed 0.3% against the dollar, clawing back some of the losses from the previous session. The peso had weakened 0.4% on Monday amid caution ahead of the trade talks. The Taiwan dollar strengthened 0.3%. Data showed that the island's equity markets received about $2.9 billion of foreign investment in September, on optimism over its economy, as a growing number of local firms were shifting their factories to Taiwan from mainland China. The South Korean won firmed 0.2% after better than expected third quarter forecast from the world's biggest semiconductor firm, Samsung Electronics, reduced concerns over South Korea's exports. Meanwhile, the Thai Baht bucked the trend to weaken about 0.1%. The baht has shown resilience by strengthening by the most among Asian units so far this year. Indian financial markets were closed for a holiday. CURRENCIES VS U.S. DOLLAR Change on the day at 0620 GMT Currency Latest bid Previous day Pct Move Japan yen 107.370 107.28 -0.08 Sing dlr 1.380 1.3808 +0.09 Taiwan dlr 30.817 30.902 +0.28 Korean won 1194.300 1196.6 +0.19 Baht 30.470 30.45 -0.07 Peso 51.740 51.89 +0.29 Rupiah 14140.000 14155 +0.11 Ringgit 4.188 4.191 +0.07 Yuan 7.123 7.1480 +0.35 Change so far in 2019 Currency Latest bid End 2018 Pct Move Japan yen 107.370 109.56 +2.04 Sing dlr 1.380 1.3627 -1.22 Taiwan dlr 30.817 30.733 -0.27 Korean won 1194.300 1115.70 -6.58 Baht 30.470 32.55 +6.83 Peso 51.740 52.47 +1.41 Rupiah 14140.000 14375 +1.66 Rupee 71.020 69.77 -1.76 Ringgit 4.188 4.1300 -1.38 Yuan 7.123 6.8730 -3.52 (Reporting by Shreya Mariam Job in Bengaluru; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)