EMERGING MARKETS-Emerging Asian Currencies Strengthen as Trump Questions Fed

CURRENCY - JAKARTA. Emerging Asian currencies strengthened on Monday as renewed pressure on the dollar, this time from President Donald Trump's criticism of the Federal Reserve, deepened concerns over central bank independence and added to uncertainty in global markets. 

The Thai baht led regional gains, just shy of its early October high, while the Singapore dollar rose 0.5% to 1.3040, its strongest level in six months.