* Shanghai stocks up as much as 1.3%
* Seoul shares hit 20-month high
* Regional FX largely steady
* Central bank rate decisions this week in Indonesia, South
Korea

By Himanshi Akhand
       Feb 19 (Reuters) - China stocks rose on Monday on the
back of Lunar New Year travel spending data as trade resumed
after the holiday, while other regional equity markets and
currencies held steady with some focus on policy rate decisions
this week in Indonesia and South Korea.
    Stocks in Shanghai rose as much as 1.3% to their
highest level in three weeks. Monday's gains brought
year-to-date losses down to about 2.8%, but China remains the
worst performer among Asian equities.
    The blue-chip CSI 300 Index rose 0.5%, while    
the yuan was largely steady at 7.196 per U.S. dollar.
    Data showed that tourism revenues in China during the Lunar
New Year holiday rose 47% year-on-year and surpassed 2019
levels, although revenues per trip were below pre-pandemic
levels. China's central bank left a key policy rate unchanged as
expected.
    "Given reports that parts of China's demand were strong
during the Lunar New Year holidays, namely tourism and
spending... the question is whether sentiment is set to shift
onto a better footing," HSBC analysts wrote in a research note.
    "So, China's near-term growth and sentiment outlook will be
very important for the FX market in the coming weeks," they
said.
    Investors are waiting to see if China's government rolls out
new stimulus measures to try to sustain the rebound in the
country's stock market.
    Shares in South Korea rose as much as 1.3% to their
highest in 20 months. Equities in Singapore rose 0.3% to
a seven-week high, while the Philippines retreated 0.5%.
    Equities in Bangkok rose 0.3% after data showed
Thailand's economy unexpectedly contracted in the fourth quarter
of 2023 from the third, adding to pressure for an interest rate
cut.
    Regional currencies were subdued as the dollar held steady
after U.S. inflation data last week cast doubts on how quickly
the Federal Reserve would cut rates, with traders now betting on
June.
    Investors will be watching for Bank Indonesia (BI) and Bank
of Korea rate decisions this week.
    Economists in a Reuters poll expect BI to keep its key
policy rate unchanged on the back of subdued inflation and an
improving currency outlook.
    They also predicted the first rate cut would come in the
next quarter, and saw a limited impact from the country's
presidential election last week. Unofficial vote counts show
Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto probably won outright.
    "Currency and bond market stability will be the main
considerations in the coming months... Armed with political
stability, the central bank is likely to be focused on global
developments," DBS analysts wrote in a client note.
    They also expect policymakers to be wary of a prematurely
dovish turn, as markets continue to reassess their Fed rate-cut
bets.
    The rupiah was a shade lower at 15,630 per dollar,
while stocks fell 0.3%.
    Inflation data from Malaysia and Singapore also remain on
investors' radar this week.
        
  
    HIGHLIGHTS
    ** Singapore to expand 2024 spending, enforce global minimum
tax
    ** Minutes of the Fed meeting from last month, scheduled for
release on Wednesday

    
  Asia stock indexes and currencies                       
 at 0437 GMT                                        
 COUNTRY   FX RIC          FX     FX  INDE  STOCKS  STOCKS
                      DAILY %  YTD %     X   DAILY   YTD %
                                                 %  
 Japan                  +0.15  -5.95  <.N2  -0.26   14.71
                                      25>           
 China                               EC>           
 India                  +0.00  +0.23  <.NS       -    1.36
                                      EI>           
 Indonesi               -0.10  -1.50  <.JK   -0.27    0.59
 a                                    SE>           
 Malaysia               -0.06  -3.99  <.KL    0.08    5.51
                                      SE>           
 Philippi               -0.14  -1.15  <.PS   -0.45    6.08
 nes                                  I>            
 S.Korea                             11>           
 Singapor               +0.07  -1.92  <.ST    0.26   -0.31
 e                                    I>            
 Taiwan                 -0.05  -2.07  <.TW    0.18    3.96
                                      II>           
 Thailand               +0.03  -4.97  <.SE    0.32   -1.77
                                      TI>           
    
    

    
 (Reporting by Himanshi Akhand in Bengaluru: Editing by Neil
Fullick)