* Graphic: Foreign flows into Asian stocks https://tmsnrt.rs/3lKhL5I
* Thai stocks eye best month since Jan. 2001
* India's GDP for the September quarter due at 1200 GMT
By Shruti Sonal
Nov 27 (Reuters) - Emerging Asian stock markets were mixed
in subdued trading on Friday with investors treading cautiously
following this week's strong gains amid concerns about the
efficacy of AstraZeneca's highly-anticipated coronavirus
vaccine.
Investors also looked towards India's gross domestic product
(GDP) data at 1200 GMT which is expected to show a pick-up in
Asia's third largest economy in the September quarter after a
record contraction in the previous three months. India's NSE Nifty 50 index .NSEI and the rupee INR= were
flat ahead of the GDP release.
Equity markets in Singapore .STI , the Philippines .PSI
and Malaysia .KLSE were down on the day, while stocks in
Thailand .SETI and Indonesia .JKSE were up slightly.
Frank Benzimra, head of Asia equity strategy at Societe
Generale said month-to-date returns of most stock indexes in the
region had been "quite robust."
"Hence (it) is normal to see a bit of consolidation", he
added.
Analysts said there were "increasing signs of nervousness"
in financial markets after the efficacy of AstraZeneca's AZN.L
potential COVID-19 vaccine came under more intense scrutiny,
which experts say could delay its approval. But Benzimra said the fundamentals of emerging markets in
Asia were upbeat given the weakening U.S. dollar, expectations
for faster growth in 2021, and with valuations seen supported by
an earnings recovery.
Malaysia's ringgit INR= and stock index .KLSE , which had
firmed in the previous session after the country's parliament
approved the 2021 budget, eased slightly. Tourism-dependent Thai shares .SETI , up 20% so far in
November due to positive developments on the vaccine front, were
eyeing their best month since January 2001.
Data released earlier showed Thailand's factory output fell
by less than expected in October. Trading in regional currencies was subdued with the U.S.
market in for a shorter trading session on Friday after being
closed on Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday.
HIGHLIGHTS:
** Philippines, private firms to sign vaccine supply deal
with AstraZeneca ** India cuts import tax on crude palm oil to 27.5% from
37.5%- govt Asia stock indexes and currencies
at 0356 GMT
COUNTRY FX RIC FX DAILY FX YTD INDEX STOCKS STOCKS
% % DAILY % YTD %
Japan JPY= +0.28 +4.47 .N225 0.25 12.45
China
India INR=IN +0.07 -3.25 .NSEI 0.19 6.93
Indones IDR= +0.00 -1.49 .JKSE 0.21 -8.38
ia
Malaysi MYR= -0.12 +0.47 .KLSE -0.34 1.13
a
Philipp PHP= +0.06 +5.37 .PSI -1.67 -12.83
ines
S.Korea
Singapo SGD= +0.02 +0.46 .STI -0.22 -11.53
re
Taiwan TWD=TP +1.09 +5.63 .TWII -0.09 15.31
Thailan THB=TH -0.03 -1.25 .SETI 0.32 -8.97
d