* Singapore May core inflation unchanged from April
* Taiwan stocks set for worst day since April 19
* Chinese stocks fall ahead of key data

By Rajasik  Mukherjee
       June 24 (Reuters) - Taiwan stocks slumped nearly 2% on
Monday, weighed down by chipmakers that declined following a
slump in U.S. tech firms, while equities in other emerging Asian
markets remained subdued ahead of key economic data in the
United States.
    Equities in Taiwan, which soared last week in tandem
with its U.S. peers riding on the Nvidia wave, fell as
much as 1.8% to mark their worst day since April 19. Taiwan
Semiconductor Manufacturing Co lost nearly 3%.
    South Korean stocks, which also rode the tech wave
last week, started the week on a weak footing with a 0.9%
decline. South Korean won was largely unchanged.
    The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback
against a basket of currencies, was trading at 105.810 as
investors awaited key U.S. inflation reading that could
influence the interest rate outlook.
    The Federal Reserve's patience with keeping interest rates
higher for longer has boosted the dollar. 
    Singapore shares and the local dollar were
largely unchanged after data released showed key core consumer
price gauge remained unchanged from last month.
    "In the medium-term, we remain positive on the SGD given
robust macro fundamentals and a monetary policy that has an
appreciating currency as a default stance," analysts at Maybank
wrote.
    Market participants also await Malaysia's inflation data due
on Tuesday, hoping for clarity on the central bank's policy
trajectory. 
    The Malaysian ringgit traded flat, while stocks in
Kuala Lumpur rose slightly.
    Elsewhere in the region, the Philippine peso lost
0.5% while shares gained 0.5% ahead of the central bank's
policy decision on Thursday.
    "Peso remains under pressure given the perceived dovishness
of the BSP and the risk of that they could cut ahead of the
Fed," Maybank analysts said.
    Other Asian currencies such as the Thai baht fell
as much as 0.3%, while the Japanese yen and the Chinese
yuan traded largely flat.
    The Shanghai Composite index lost 0.7% as investors
cautiously awaited key domestic economic data.
    The Indonesian rupiah came off a four-year low
touched last week. Stocks in Jakarta rose 0.3%, their
third consecutive session of gains.
        
    
    HIGHLIGHTS:    
    ** Indonesian 10-year benchmark yields fall to 7.111%
    ** Indonesia economy fundamentally strong, says senior
minister
    ** BOJ debated need for timely rate hike at June meeting,
summary says
    
 Asia stock indexes and                              
 currencies at 0411 GMT                         
 COUNTRY  FX RIC        FX     FX  INDE  STOCK  STOCK
                     DAILY  YTD %     X      S  S YTD
                         %               DAILY      %
                                             %  
 Japan               +0.04  -11.6  <.N2  +0.39  +15.7
                                8  25>     %      %
 China                           EC>          
 India               +0.01  -0.37  <.NS  -0.32   7.80
                                   EI>          
 Indones             +0.02  -6.36  <.JK   0.28  -5.13
 ia                                SE>          
 Malaysi              0.00  -2.55  <.KL   0.06   9.39
 a                                 SE>          
 Philipp             -0.54  -5.76  <.PS   0.52  -4.02
 ines                              I>           
 S.Korea                         11>          
 Singapo             +0.01  -2.61  <.ST  -0.09   1.94
 re                                I>           
 Taiwan              -0.02  -5.07  <.TW  -1.63  27.57
                                   II>          
 Thailan             -0.08  -6.98  <.SE  -0.26  -7.97
 d                                 TI>          
 
    
    

    
 (Reporting by Rajasik Mukherjee in Bengaluru; Editing by
Mrigank Dhaniwala)