* Singapore April core inflation hits 1-yr low
* Malaysia April CPI data due on Friday
* Indonesia up 1.6%, post-election unrest calms down
By Niyati Shetty
May 23 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets closed
lower on Thursday as an intensifying battle over technology
added to the simmering trade tensions between the United States
and China.
Investors worry that the protracted tariff war between the
world's top two economies, which has dented global economic
growth, could see further escalation with no signs of a
resolution in the near term.
Reuters reported late on Wednesday that the U.S.
administration was considering Huawei-like sanctions on Chinese
video surveillance firm Hikvision 002415.SZ over the country's
treatment of its Uighur Muslim minority. Thai shares .SETI were the top losers in Southeast Asia
with a drop of 1.1%, weighed down by energy and material stocks.
Oil & gas firm PTT PCL PTT.BK lost 1.6%, while PTT Global
Chemical PCL PTTGC.BK fell 4%.
Singapore shares .STI declined 0.7% even as April core
inflation eased to its lowest level in a year due to falling
electricity costs and lower food inflation. Data released earlier in the day showed core inflation rose
1.3% in April from a year earlier, in line with a Reuters poll
estimate, and easing from the prior month's 1.4% rise.
Lender DBS Group Holdings Ltd DBSM.SI and conglomerate
Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd JARD.SI weighed on the Singapore
stock index, slipping 0.9% and 1.6%, respectively.
Malaysian shares .KLSE were marginally down ahead of
inflation data due on Friday.
Consumer prices likely increased 0.4% in April from a year
earlier, at a slightly faster pace than the previous month's
0.2% year-on-year rise, according to a Reuters poll.
Meanwhile, Indonesian shares .JKSE gained 1.6% with calm
returning to the streets of Jakarta after post-election
protests. Unrest ensued in the world's third-largest democracy after
the election commission confirmed earlier this week that
incumbent President Joko Widodo's had beaten ex-general Prabowo
Subianto in the April 17 poll.
The market was relieved that the post-election situation
calmed down and was confident that stability would return, said
Anugerah Zamzami Nasr, an equity research analyst with PT
Phillip Sekuritas Indonesia.
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SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS
Market Current Previous close Pct Move
Singapore 3160.72 3183.14 -0.70
Bangkok 1609.79 1626.91 -1.05
Manila 7804.03 7815.07 -0.14
Jakarta 6032.696 5939.636 1.57
Kuala Lumpur 1601.87 1603.74 -0.12
Ho Chi Minh 982.71 983.78 -0.11
Change so far in 2019
Market Current End 2018 Pct Move
Singapore 3160.72 3068.76 3.00
Bangkok 1609.79 1563.88 2.94
Manila 7804.03 7,466.02 4.53
Jakarta 6032.696 6,194.50 -2.61
Kuala Lumpur 1601.87 1690.58 -5.25
Ho Chi Minh 982.71 892.54 10.10