* Indonesian consumer confidence index plunges in April
* Singapore Airlines soars to near 2-month high
* Thai markets closed for a holiday
By Pranav A K
May 6 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stocks fell in
low-volume trade on Wednesday as poor economic data capped risk
sentiment, but Vietnam .VNI jumped more than 2% to its best
session in more than a month.
Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said on Tuesday
that the country would try to keep economic growth above 5% this
year, above estimates from the International Monetary Fund, as
activity resumes after a coronavirus lockdown.
Malaysian shares .KLSE , which led losses in the region,
were flat through most of the session but dropped shortly before
trading closed to end 0.9% lower.
The country reported 45 new confirmed coronavirus cases,
compared with the 30 new cases reported on Tuesday, as it
entered the third day of relaxed curbs on movement and
businesses. Shares of Malaysia's biggest palm oil producer Sime Darby
Bhd SIME.KL shed 3%, while Hartalega Holdings HTHB.KL lost
2.2%.
The Philippine bourse .PSI pared some earlier losses to
close 0.6% lower.
Profit-taking on Ayala Corp AC.PS , Ayala Land ALI.PS and
Metro Pacific Investments MPI.PS sent the country's benchmark
index sharply lower earlier in the session, said Frances Nicole
L Samorano, a research analyst at RCBC Securities.
The stocks surged on Tuesday after President Rodrigo Duterte
apologised to the owners of the companies. A sharp contraction in the country's exports and imports in
March also weighed on sentiment. Indonesian equities .JKSE shed 0.5% after the country's
consumer confidence index plunged to its lowest level in 12
years in April, a day after data showed first-quarter GDP grew
at its weakest pace since 2001. "Rising (coronavirus) cases in the country are sapping the
already non-existent confidence that Indonesians had in the
government's handling of the crisis. The data we are seeing is
confirming those fears," said Jeffrey Halley, senior market
analyst at OANDA.
Singapore's index .STI gained 0.8% in thin trade, with
Singapore Airlines SIAL.SI jumping 5.7% to a near 2-month
high.
"Singapore has moved higher with the rest of Asia's broad
move after U.S. stocks gained overnight. The main driver
continues to be that we have seen the peak of the virus (in the
U.S.)," Halley said.
Thai stock markets .SETI were closed for a public holiday.
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SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS
STOCK MARKETS
Change on the day
Market Current Previous close Pct Move
Singapore 2591.6 2572.36 0.75
Manila 5639.27 5671.67 -0.57
Jakarta 4608.79 4630.133 -0.46
Kuala Lumpur 1376.93 1389.55 -0.91
Ho Chi Minh 782.59 764.16 2.41
Change so far in 2020
Market Current End 2019 Pct Move
Singapore 2591.6 3222.83 -19.59
Manila 5639.27 7,815.26 -27.84
Jakarta 4608.79 6,299.54 -26.84
Kuala Lumpur 1376.93 1588.76 -13.33
Ho Chi Minh 782.59 960.99 -18.56