Taiwan dollar firms on risk return, exporter buys
* Taiwan, Korean currencies lead Asia
* Exporters buy Taiwan dollar ahead of Lunar New Year
* Dealers see Taiwan dollar as strong as T$32.0 on Wednesday (Updates to close)
TAIPEI, Feb 9 - The Taiwan dollar <TWD=TP> firmed on Tuesday, off a near six-week closing low a day earlier, as risky assets gained ground regionally and local exporters bought the currency.
Monday's close of T$32.195 to the U.S. dollar was the weakest since Dec. 30.
The South Korean won <KRW=> and Taiwan dollar led Asian currencies higher on Tuesday as investors bought stocks and other riskier assets amid hopes that policymakers would find ways to tackle sovereign credit woes in Europe. [ID:nSGE618070]
A day earlier, festering debt problems in the eurozone had prompted investors to shift out of riskier assets around Asia.
Purchases by exporters acquiring local currency ahead of the Lunar New Year that begins on Sunday further supported the Taiwan dollar, dealers in Taipei said.
Taiwan's currency could strengthen to T$32.0 on Wednesday, dealers said.
0800 GMT PREVIOUS SESSION T$ (Taipei Forex Inc) 32.100 32.195 Volume in $ mln 613 744 Cosmos <COSMOS1> 32.080 32.157 Six-month NDFs <PNDF> -0.550/-0.510 -0.450/-0.400
Note: Taipei Forex Inc is Taiwan's main forex exchange; Cosmos is a smaller exchange
Source: NDFs quotations from Prebon Asia
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