* Dollar finds broad support in Asia session
* Weak Japan, Thailand data keeps lid on optimism
* Euro nurses losses after weak manufacturing reading
* RBA Gov speech eyed
* Graphic: World FX rates in 2019 http://tmsnrt.rs/2egbfVh
By Tom Westbrook
SINGAPORE, Sept 24 (Reuters) - The dollar held firm on
Tuesday as the euro struggled on more signs of economic trouble
in the euro zone, while sterling wallowed near one-week lows
before a key Supreme Court ruling related to the suspension of
Britain's parliament this month.
Traders were also keeping a watchful eye on Sino-U.S. trade
talks which is set to resume next month, with
constantly-shifting expectations on the prospect of a deal
keeping markets on edge in the past month.
The dollar rose slightly against the yen JPY= to 107.59
and inched higher against a basket of currencies .DXY to
98.664. It was steady against the euro, which stayed under $1.10
mark where it had fallen on Monday following dismal readings on
German manufacturing.
Sterling was also under the gun, wallowing at $1.2429, near
a one-week low, ahead of a UK Supreme Court ruling due around
0930 GMT.
The court will rule on whether Prime Minister Boris Johnson
acted unlawfully when he suspended parliament just weeks before
Brexit, with the case's outcome potentially complicating his
plans to lead his country out of the European Union next month.
Overall, traders were cautious in light of the Brexit
uncertainty, Sino-U.S. trade talks and a slowing global economy.
Data in Asia further underscored the fragility of growth
across key economies. Japanese manufacturing activity shrank at
the quickest pace in seven months September, while Thailand also
posted a sharper-than-expected drop in production in August.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told Fox Business
that discussions were scheduled in two weeks and that he and
U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer would meet Chinese
Vice Premier Liu He. "The Street wants these talks to make progress, so I would
expect in the run-up, if there's progress, then we'll see a
rally in emerging markets currencies," said Jeffrey Halley,
senior analyst for Asia Pacific at OANDA by phone from Jakarta.
"But I think the currency markets are in a bit of a holding
pattern...they're definitely marking time," he said.
The Australian and New Zealand dollars were steady ahead of
a speech by Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Phil Lowe at 1005
GMT, with the market expecting a dovish tone after weak jobs
data last week lifted expectations of an imminent rate cut.
Both currencies sat near three-week lows, with the Aussie
AUD=D3 buying $0.6781 and the kiwi lifting slightly to
NZD=D3 $0.6302.
"We think Lowe will provide a strong signal that the RBA is
ready to cut rates again, endorsing our view for a 25bp cut in
October," said Tapas Strickland, a director of economics and
markets at National Australia Bank in Sydney.
"Any comments on the scope for unconventional policy will
also be critical for the market."
China's yuan CNY= strengthened slightly to 7.1085.
A Bloomberg report, citing sources, saying China had granted
several domestic firms new tariff waivers for U.S. soybean
imports sent the Chinese currency higher in afternoon trade.