EMERGING MARKETS-Asian currencies rise on US rate cut bets; trade tensions linger

(Updates for afternoon trade) * Fed rate cut bets, firmer yuan fixing help Asian currencies * Thai baht, Taiwan dollar rise 0.6% each * Seoul shares reach record high * US-China trade tensions remain in the limelight By Himanshi Akhand Oct 15 (Reuters) – Emerging Asian currencies strengthened on Wednesday as the U.S. dollar softened after dovish comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell fuelled expectations for more interest rate cuts, though growing U.S.-China trade worries kept investors cautious. The MSCI index of emerging market currencies broke its six-session losing streak to rise 0.5%. It was on course for its best day in more than three months. The Thai baht and the Taiwanese dollar rose 0.6% each. The Chinese yuan strengthened 0.2%. Beijing set the official yuan midpoint o