(Corrects paragraph 12 to show Malaysian stocks recorded their
eighth straight session of losses, not lost for record eight
sessions)
* Vietnam sees worst day in over a year
* Vietnam Airlines hits record low
* Malaysia closes lower for eighth straight session
By Arpit Nayak
Jan 30 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stocks fell across the
board on Thursday as the death toll from the coronavirus in
China rose sharply, with Vietnamese shares losing more than 3%.
Vietnam markets .VNI opening after the Lunar New Year
holidays saw their worst session in over a year, as investors
priced in the economic impact of the virus outbreak.
Adding to woes, the World Health Organization (WHO) on
Wednesday expressed concern over the person-to-person spread of
the virus in three countries, including Vietnam. Flag carrier Vietnam Airlines HVN.HM was among the biggest
losers as it shed 6.9% to close at a record low.
Meanwhile, WHO said it would reconvene later on Thursday to
deliberate whether the rapid spread of the virus could now be
labelled a global emergency. The new virus has claimed 170 lives in China so far, with
the number of infected patients growing to 7,711 in the country.
Infections have been reported in at least 15 other
countries, prompting investors to worry about the fiscal health
of the world's second-largest economy which recently started
showing signs of recovery.
So far, confirmed cases of infection have been reported in
Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand.
Indonesian shares .JKSE shed 0.9% after the finance
minister on Wednesday said the tourism sector would be hit as
Chinese tourists, who make up a bulk of tourist footfalls in the
country, cancel travel plans due to the outbreak. Financials and automakers were the biggest drags on the
index, with Bank Mandiri BMRI.JK and automotive firm Astra
International ASII.JK losing 1.9% and 2.9%, respectively.
The Singaporean index .STI also slid, as lender DBS Group
Holdings DBSM.SI dropped 0.5% and transport services provider
SATS Ltd SATS.SI fell 1.7%.
The Malaysian stock index .KLSE fell for an eighth
straight session, as resources and utility stocks weighed.
Philippine shares .PSI also fell, closing at their lowest
since Dec. 10, 2018.
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SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS
Change on the day
Market Current Previous close Pct Move
Singapore 3170.68 3182.57 -0.37
Bangkok 1523.99 1524.59 -0.04
Manila 7392.68 7462.31 -0.93
Jakarta 6057.596 6113.045 -0.91
Kuala Lumpur 1545.59 1550.47 -0.31
Ho Chi Minh 959.58 991.46 -3.22
Change so far in 2020
Market Current End 2019 Pct Move
Singapore 3170.68 3222.83 -1.62
Bangkok 1523.99 1579.84 -3.54
Manila 7392.68 7,815.26 -5.41
Jakarta 6057.596 6,299.54 -3.84
Kuala Lumpur 1545.59 1588.76 -2.72
Ho Chi Minh 959.58 960.99 -0.15