Asian currencies weaken after hot US inflation; Korean stocks fall 8%

Most emerging Asian currencies came under pressure on Thursday after hotter-than-expected US inflation raised expectations for a Federal Reserve rate hike and strengthened the dollar. The Philippine peso fell to a record low of 63.09, while the South Korean won touched a two-week low. South Korean stocks tumbled 8%, Taiwan shares fell more than 3%, and an MSCI emerging market currency index posted its biggest one-day drop in two weeks.