* Singapore down up to 0.6%, snaps 2 sessions of gains
* Minutes of July Fed meet due later on Wednesday
* Thai shares gain after July exports rise unexpectedly
By Niyati Shetty
Aug 21 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian markets fell on
Wednesday, with Singapore leading declines, as investors waited
for minutes of U.S. central bank's July meeting.
The markets look forward to hints about any further monetary
policy easing, following global recession fears that dampened
risk sentiment last week.
"Asian markets may see some retracement today (Wednesday)
amid some modest profit-taking" ahead of the Fed's July minutes
due later in the day and Chair Jerome Powell's speech on Friday,
OCBC Bank said in a note to clients.
Singapore stocks .STI declined after two sessions of
gains, with financial and industrial sectors weighing on the
index. Jardine Strategic Holdings JSH.SI fell 2% and United
Overseas Bank UOBH.SI slipped 1.1%.
Indonesian equities .JKSE declined as financials took a
toll. Lenders Bank Mega Tbk PT MEGA.JK and Bank Mandiri
(Persero) Tbk PT BMRI.JK slumped 8.1% and 1.4%, respectively.
Meanwhile, the Thai bourse .SETI climbed after data on
Wednesday showed custom-cleared annual exports rose 4.28% in
July from a year ago, contrary to a 2.3% drop expected in a
Reuters poll. The data comes a day after Thailand's finance ministry cut
its 2019 economic growth forecast to 3.0% from the 3.8% it
projected in April, due to falling exports. Oil & gas explorer PTT Exploration and Production PTTEP.BK
added 1.7%, while trading firm Berli Jucker BJC.BK rose 3.8%.
Vietnam stocks .VNI were poised to gain for a sixth
straight session.
Philippine markets .PSI were closed for a holiday.
For Asian Companies click;
SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS AS AT 0444 GMT
Market Current Previous close Pct Move
Singapore 3119.84 3135.95 -0.51
Bangkok 1634.25 1625.57 0.53
Jakarta 6262.59 6295.738 -0.53
Kuala Lumpur 1599.66 1602.75 -0.19
Ho Chi Minh 990.89 984.67 0.63
Change so far in 2019
Market Current End 2018 Pct Move
Singapore 3119.84 3068.76 1.66
Bangkok 1634.25 1563.88 4.50
Manila 7886.91 7,466.02 5.64
Jakarta 6262.59 6,194.50 1.10
Kuala Lumpur 1599.66 1690.58 -5.38
Ho Chi Minh 990.89 892.54 11.02