* Singapore falls most after disappointing data
* Malaysia's GDP grows 4.9% in the second quarter
By Soumyajit Saha
Aug 16 (Reuters) - Most Southeast Asian stock markets fell
on Friday as contradictory statements regarding tariffs between
the U.S. and China left investors puzzled, while Thailand index
rose due to a rally in financials and energy stocks.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday said the trade war
would be "fairly short", adding that the two parties have
engaged in "very productive talks" over the week. Trump also
said he had a call scheduled with his Chinese counterpart Xi
Jinping soon. Beijing played down Trump's optimism when it vowed to
retaliate to the U.S. tariffs set to kick in on Sept. 1, calling
the tariffs a violation of a consensus reached between the two
countries in June.
In a separate statement, the Chinese finance ministry said
it was still looking to reach a deal, hoping "the U.S. will meet
China halfway".
"I would call the trade tensions the key variable that is
causing so much uncertainty in the markets," Joel Ng, an analyst
with KGI Securities said.
Singapore stocks .STI fell the most in the region, down
0.8%, hurt by losses in financials and industrials.
Lender United Overseas Bank UOBH.SI lost 0.7%, while
conglomerate Jardine Matheson Holdings JARD.SI fell 1.5%.
Singapore's non-oil exports shrank for the fifth straight
month as shipments of electronics and pharmaceutical declined.
"The data was slightly better than estimates but it was
still negative, and that doesn't lend any confidence given the
slowdown has been going on for quite a while," Joel Ng added.
Malaysian stocks .KLSE also fell, hurt by the financial
and consumer sectors.
Lender Malayan Banking BHD MBBM.KL slipped 0.4%, while
palm oil producer Sime Darby Plantation BHD SIPL.KL fell 3%.
Malaysia's GDP grew 4.9% in the second quarter to beat the
4.8% rise forecast in a Reuters poll, making it the first major
Southeast Asian economy to report an acceleration from
January-March. Thai shares .SETI rose, helped by gains in financial and
energy stocks. Lender Siam Commercial Bank SCB.BK gained 1.7%,
while oil explorer PTT PCL PTT.BK rode a surge in oil prices
to rise 0.6%. O/R
Thailand's central bank on Thursday relaxed mortgage lending
rules to help some borrowers hit by tighter regulations
introduced in April. The tightening had led to a slowdown in new
housing loans in the second quarter. Indonesian stocks .JKSE were also slightly higher, helped
by gains in the consumer and energy sectors.
Philippine shares .PSI were slightly lower, hurt by
consumer and utility stocks.
For Asian Companies click;
SOUTHEAST ASIAN STOCK MARKETS AS AT 0405 GMT
STOCK MARKETS
Change on the day
Market Current Previous close Pct Move
Singapore 3104.55 3126.09 -0.69
Bangkok 1611.97 1604.03 0.50
Manila 7819.34 7828.86 -0.12
Jakarta 6280.447 6257.586 0.37
Kuala Lumpur 1594.02 1600.29 -0.39
Ho Chi Minh 980.12 979.38 0.08
Change so far in 2019
Market Current End 2018 Pct Move
Singapore 3104.55 3068.76 1.17
Bangkok 1611.97 1563.88 3.08
Manila 7819.34 7,466.02 4.73
Jakarta 6280.447 6,194.50 1.39
Kuala Lumpur 1594.02 1690.58 -5.71
Ho Chi Minh 980.12 892.54 9.81