Asian currencies lower

Asian currencies were mostly lower against the greenback this week, with the US unit rising amid speculation the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates earlier next year than predicted. JAPANESE YEN: The Japanese unit declined to 91. 30 to the dollar in Tokyo on Friday from 89.84 to the dollar a week ago. There was no trading in New York on Friday for the Christmas holiday. AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR: The Aussie closed Thursday at 88.25 US cents, down slightly from 88.87 a week earlier, ahead of the Christmas holiday. CHINESE YUAN: The yuan closed at 6.8272 to the dollar Friday on the over-the counter market, compared with 6.8280 the week before. HONG KONG DOLLAR: The US-pegged Hong Kong unit ended the week flat at 7.756 from 7.757 the week before. INDONESIAN RUPIAH: The rupiah closed flat at 9 , 500 to the dollar. PHILIPPINE PESO: The Philippine peso traded higher at 46.510 to the dollar on December 23 , the last trading day for the week, compared to 46.650 on December 18. SINGAPORE DOLLAR: The Singapore dollar was at 1.4064 to the US dollar from 1.4004 the previous week. SOUTH KOREAN WON: The won closed at 1 , 175.00 won to the dollar on Thursday, its highest in more than a week, compared with 1 ,176.2 won on Friday the week before. TAIWAN DOLLAR: The Taiwan dollar rose 0.33 percent in the week to close at 32.274 against the US dollar from 32.380 a week earlier. THAI BAHT: The unit closed Friday at 33.33-35 baht to the dollar compared to last week's close of 33.20-21.