* Singapore, Philippines up over 2%
* Indonesia c.bank may stay on hold - poll
By Arundhati Dutta
April 14 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian markets rose in thin
trade on Tuesday, tracking broader equities on signs of the
coronavirus pandemic peaking, amid high caution ahead of Chinese
trade data and an uncertain U.S. earnings season.
Ten U.S. states, including New York and California, banded
together on Monday in regional pacts to reopen their economies
as signs emerged that the virus crisis had peaked. China's trade data, due to be released later in the day, is
expected to show exports continued to slump in March and imports
further declined due to a collapse in oil prices, according to a
Reuters poll.
"Economic data may still not matter as much as the
coronavirus confirmed cases at this point," analysts at Maybank
said in a note.
Singaporean stocks .STI advanced up to 2.4%, hitting their
highest level in a month. Heavyweight financials United Overseas
Bank Ltd UOBH.SI and DBS Group Group Holdings Ltd DBSM.SI
rose over 2%, each.
The Philippine index .PSI jumped as much as 2.5% and
touched its highest in a month. Bank of the Philippine Islands
BPI.PS and Security Bank Corporation SECB.PS gained 3.8%,
and 4.9%, respectively.
The Thai benchmark .SETI rose up to 1.9%, boosted by
consumer discretionary stocks. Home Product Center Pcl
HMPRO.BK jumped 3.7%.
Thailand approved measures to boost production of medical
equipment on Monday, a senior official said, as the country
battles the virus which has claimed 40 lives there so far.
Vietnamese shares .VNI edged up, with real estate stocks
the top gainers.
Indonesian equities .JKSE climbed up to 1% ahead of its
central bank meeting, with gains led by financials. PT Bank
Mandiri (Persero) Tbk BMRI.JK added 1.8%.
A small majority of analysts polled by Reuters expect
Indonesia's central bank to keep its policy rate on hold as it
tries to maintain stability in its currency and capital markets
amid pressures from the pandemic. Asian Companies click;
SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS AS AT 0325 GMT
STOCK MARKETS
Change on the
day
Market Current Previous Pct Move
close
Singapore 2627.74 2567.25 2.36
Bangkok 1257.55 1236.78 1.68
Manila 5752.11 5610.98 2.52
Jakarta 4651.384 4623.894 0.59
Kuala Lumpur 1365.21 1356.03 0.68
Ho Chi Minh 766.74 765.79 0.12
Change so far
in 2020
Market Current End 2019 Pct Move
Singapore 2627.74 3222.83 -18.46
Bangkok 1257.55 1579.84 -20.40
Manila 5752.11 7,815.26 -26.40
Jakarta 4651.384 6,299.54 -26.16
Kuala Lumpur 1365.21 1588.76 -14.07
Ho Chi Minh 766.74 960.99 -20.21