* Singapore shares near 2-month low
* U.S. markets closed for a public holiday
* Thai market up as political uncertainty may be at an end
May 27 (Reuters) - Singapore shares hovered near two-month
lows on Monday as investors stayed wary of the uncertain outcome
of U.S.-China trade tensions, while an absence of cues from U.S.
markets closed for a public holiday saw light trade in other
markets in Southeast Asia.
After closing higher on Friday, Singapore stocks .STI fell
once again, with Hutchison Port Holdings Trust HPHT.SI leading
the declines.
The city-state was down as much as 0.4%, widening what will
be its worst month since October last year.
Investors are expecting quiet trading conditions, but will
be monitoring news wires closely as geo-politics and trade
concerns continue to remain relevant, said Nick Twidale, chief
operating officer at Rakuten Securities Australia in a daily
morning note.
Golden Agri-Resources Ltd GAGR.SI and Singapore Press
Holdings Ltd SPRM.SI were among the biggest drags, falling
1.8% and 1.3%, respectively.
Philippine shares .PSI fell as much as 0.6%, with
heavyweight PLDT Inc TEL.PS the biggest drag. The
telecommunications firm was down as much as 3.9%, its biggest
drop in about eight weeks.
Fio Dejesus, an equity research analyst at RCBC Securities,
said foreign outflows could lead markets going forward, as
investors factor in ensuing trade uncertainty and the end of the
earnings season.
The Philippine peso PHP= was 0.1% weaker compared with
broad appreciation across units in the region.
Elsewhere markets all edged higher, while Indonesian shares
.JKSE were up as much as 0.7% to a near two-week high. It
remained on track for a third straight session of gains.
Financials in the country led the gains, with Bank Central
Asia TBK PT BBCA.JK and Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) TBK PT
BBRI.JK up 0.8% and 2.1%, respectively.
Thai shares .SETI gained 0.1% in early trade as a pro-army
party hopes to seal a deal on Monday end opposition hopes of
keeping the military out of politics. Energy and financial stocks raked in much of the gains with
PTT PCL PTT.BK being among the biggest boosts, up 0.6%.
For Asian Companies click;
SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS AT 0323 GMT
Change on the day
Market Current Previous close Pct Move
Singapore 3161.76 3169.89 -0.26
Bangkok 1616.01 1614.12 0.12
Manila 7712.4 7747.09 -0.45
Jakarta 6097.829 6057.353 0.67
Kuala Lumpur 1599.13 1598.32 0.05
Ho Chi Minh 972.7 970.03 0.28
Change so far in 2019
Market Current End 2018 Pct Move
Singapore 3161.76 3068.76 3.03
Bangkok 1616.01 1563.88 3.33
Manila 7712.4 7,466.02 3.30
Jakarta 6097.829 6,194.50 -1.56
Kuala Lumpur 1599.13 1690.58 -5.41
Ho Chi Minh 972.7 892.54 8.98