* Indonesian President plans stricter movement restrictions
* Vietnamese PM orders suspension of public transport
services
* Thailand earmarks $15 bln stimulus package
By Arundhati Dutta
March 31 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stock markets rose on
Tuesday as data showed China factory activity unexpectedly
expanded in March after contracting to a record low in the
previous month even though the coronavirus pandemic showed few
signs of abating.
China's official Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 52 in
March from a collapse to a record low of 35.7 in February, but
analysts cautioned the index might overstate the true
improvement as firms could be reporting expansion after a forced
stoppage. MKTS/GLOB
Many also warn that manufacturers and overall economic
activity will remain under pressure as the virus continues to
spread rapidly around the globe, while governments and central
banks continue in their attempts to cushion its impact.
"Asia, having led the world into the coronavirus epidemic,
appears to be showing signs of a tentative, if uneven,
recovery," OANDA analyst Jeffrey Halley wrote in a note.
Indonesian shares .JKSE rose as much as 3.5%, underpinned
by consumer staples and financials.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo said on Monday he planned
stricter rules on mobility and social distancing. The country
confirmed 130 new virus infections on Sunday, taking the total
to 1,285.
Singaporean stocks .STI bounced back, rising as much as 3%
in early trade. Index heavyweights Jardine Matheson Holdings
JARD.SI and Jardine Strategic Holdings JSH.SI were both up
more than 5%.
Thai shares .SETI rose up to 2.4%, with financial and
energy stocks leading the gains.
Thailand's finance minister said on Monday the new stimulus
package to counter the impact of the pandemic would be worth
more than 500 billion baht ($15.3 billion), while the central
bank said it had further expanded the scope of liquidity
support. Vietnamese equities .VNI gained on financials. Prime
Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Monday ordered the suspension of
public transport services to curb the spread of the virus, which
is known to have infected 203 people in the country.
Philippine stocks .PSI added up to 4%, with big caps SM
Investments SM.PS and Ayala Land ALI.PS rising more than 3%
each.
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SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS AS AT 0326 GMT
STOCK MARKETS
Change on the
day
Market Current Previous Pct Move
close
Singapore 2464.25 2416.24 1.99
Bangkok 1106.15 1087.82 1.69
Manila 5255.48 5131.16 2.42
Jakarta 4504.964 4414.5 2.05
Kuala Lumpur 1339.68 1328.88 0.81
Ho Chi Minh 678.64 662.26 2.47
Change so far
in 2020
Market Current End 2019 Pct Move
Singapore 2464.25 3222.83 -23.54
Bangkok 1106.15 1579.84 -29.98
Manila 5255.48 7,815.26 -32.75
Jakarta 4504.964 6,299.54 -28.49
Kuala Lumpur 1339.68 1588.76 -15.68
Ho Chi Minh 678.64 960.99 -29.38